News From Fort Schuyler

January 21, 2008 - Volume 8, No. 2

CLASS OF 1946 INITIATIVE - Thanks to PHIL DILLOWAY's Class of October 1946, a plaque has been dedicated and is on permanent display at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington DC commemorating NY State Maritime Academy graduates who served in the Merchant Marine and armed services. It reads in part: "Born of the Silent Generation, we were admitted in wartime, trained as mariners and graduated in peacetime. We are forever indebted to our Alma Mater." You can view the plaque online and find out more about visiting this impressive memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue by going to http://www.lonesailor.org

FRED HESS FONDLY REMEMBERED (PART II) - A graduate of the Class of 1975, TOM KENNEDY, writes "... I would like to share a very small personal story about my short time meeting and discussing astronomy with Dr Hess. I was an avid amateur astronomer long before college. While attending SUNY Maritime, I would run into Dr. Hess in the observatory on top of the Fort. I forget what size scope it was, but far more than anything I owned or ever had access to. Dr. Hess and I would discuss all things astronomy as well as weather (yes, I was an M&O - and knew of Dr. Hess from Channel 11 for many years - I grew up in the Bronx). It was funny that M&O's did not take Chemistry as part of their curriculum, thus I had not actually had Dr. Hess as a teacher at that point.

We chatted about astronomy so much, that we agreed to start an astronomy club for the school. It was very slow going, but I sure loved the opportunity to meet with Dr. Hess and fellow classmates who loved astronomy. During my 2nd class year, Dr. Hess suggested that SUNY offer an Astronomy 101 course. I immediately signed up. What do you know? I had to get special permission to take the class since that was my heaviest semester of the four years, and the school had strict rules about how many credits you could carry in any one semester. Of course it was the most enjoyable class I ever took and certainly my easiest. I never thought how much work it must have been for Dr. Hess to prepare a brand new class to teach as an elective. Today, I so much more appreciate what a gift that was.

I have been off-and-on with my astronomy hobby over the last 33 years, since my graduation from SUNY Maritime. More off, while raising kids, and way more ON of late. The last five years I have been intensely involved with the hobby, particularly imaging. I never spend a dark night imaging that I don't think of Dr. Hess. I hope the school has a very special place of honor for him, for what he did for so many young minds at that school.

I currently run the IC Postdoctoral Program for the CIA and the intelligence community in Washington, DC. I can only hope that my program (with the resources of the US Gov't) can come even close to the same impact as Dr. Hess accomplished single handedly at tiny little SUNY Maritime. As you suggest, may he truly rest in peace. What an incredible man.

Tom also provided links to some of his astronomy photos and information about the IC Postdoctoral Program at http://www.tomkennedy.org/deep_sky.htm and http://www.icpostdoc.org/

FOFS REPORT - Some NFFS readers are 'Friends of Fort Schuyler,' folks who first got to know the college through campus tours, visiting or volunteering at the museum, using campus facilities or attending events. WALTER E LEE, a retired science teacher from New Jersey, is a SS UNITED STATES buff who first came to Schuyler for a presentation by liner expert, William Miller. "What a great program (not to mention the terrific cocktail party after the talk...) and what a great intro to SUNY Maritime. I was, and still am, very impressed with the whole 'aura' of Schuyler. There is a special feeling about it ... and this is coming from a neutral first-time visitor!!!" BRADLEY GOLDEN, whose long-time association with Fort Schuyler began when he was in high school, writes: "Those days are long gone, but I'm still in the industry - now as a naval architect after having attended Webb Institute ... and then getting a master's from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. I'm still involved with the museum, now as member of the Board of Directors." FRANK DUFFY, another museum volunteer from its earliest days (who is now Executive Vice President) is a maritime author (he co-authored 'The New York Harbor Book' with the aforementioned William Miller. ) Frank has another book coming out this spring. 'Always on Station,' a history of the Sandy Hook Pilot Association to be published by the Purple Mountain Press. (NOTE: The college's Stephen B. Luce Library preserves Sandy Hook Pilot Association piloting books, day books, and pilot boat logs, dating back to 1845, in its Archives Collection.)

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Richard Corson _ Forest Hills, NY

Latitude 40.716N Longitude _73.85W

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