News From Fort Schuyler

May 5, 2008 - Volume 8, No. 16

UPWARD AND ONWARD - General Dynamics American Overseas Marine (AMSEA) has announced the appointment of THOMAS MERRELL, Class of 1977, as President. The AMSEA press release noted that Tom had joined the company in 1984 and became Vice President of Marine Operations in 2004. Prior to that he had managed eight ships as AMSEA's Fast Sealift Ship program manager. CAPT. Merrell had previously shipped with Gulf Oil and captained with Amoco.

A RISING GLASS - In response to last week's query about the status of student clubs on campus, Provost and VPAA DR. JOSEPH C. HOFFMAN, Class of 1975, wrote that the college's new Dean of Students, "ERIK KNEUBUEHL and his staff have re-energized student life on campus. Most impressive is the way they have helped the Student Government Association (SGA) become a true governance organization." Erik followed up with a phone call to the NFFS Editor. The rejuvenation of clubs is a work in progress - good progress. He explained that there are now approximately 10-15 active clubs, including those of long standing such as the Society of Women Engineers, National Society of Black Engineers, Auto Club, Jewish Culture Club, Eagle Scout Fraternity, Propeller Club, and several newer ones such as WOW (Women on Water), Society for International Trade & Transportation (ITT), Turkish Club (there are 70 Turkish students enrolled in the cadet corps), Artillery Club (civil war re-enactments and annual Halloween candlelight tour around the fortifications), Fishing Club, and the Cheerleading Club. In addition to these clubs, which are funded from a variety of sources, the SGA has direct oversight over two other student programs, the Eight Bells College Yearbook Committee and Maritime Activities and Program (MAPS) which sponsors special events and activities for students, off and on campus, including concerts, parties, tours, museum trips, film showings and theater events. There is even a new recreation room, The Fantail, which recently opened in the Student Activities Building. Finally, there is now a Graduate Student Association (GSA) to represent the needs of a growing population at the Maritime College.

MARITIME MODEL MAKER - Ship models built by ROLAND PARENT, Class of 1968, are on display in New York and Rhode Island. The NY venue is none other than the Maritime Industry Museum at Fort Schuyler where ten of Roland's models are part of that new exhibition honoring the piloting profession. They will on display until May 2009. In addition, two other models that Roland constructed are in Rhode Island as part of a display by the Jamestown Historical Society which will be at the Island 10 Cinema on West Main Road in Middletown, RI through June 2008.

CONGRATULATIONS ARE PAST DUE - At last month's Student Recognition Dinner, the SGA cited ANTHONY MANZI, Class of 1989, Professor of Meteorology (Teacher Excellence Award), CAPT. TOM GREENE, Deputy Commandant (Dedication Award), and SCOTT TOWNSEND (Student Excellence Award.) The Department of Student Life cited the Eagle Scout Fraternity as the Club of the Year. The GSA recognized CATHERINE JIMENEZ. Asst. Registrar (Service Award), JOSEPH WARD (Excellence in Scholarship-Graduate License Program), and Lt. MATTHEW BRICKER (Excellence in Scholarship.) Well done to all.

EBB TIDE - News was recently posted on the Alumni Association website of the death on 2 September 2007 of VINCENT MAXWELL, Class of 1938. Mr. Maxwell was a long-time resident of Westwood, NJ. When Maxwell attended the school it was called The New York State Merchant Marine Academy, it had a 2-year program, and its Training Ship was the "Hog Islander" class EMPIRE STATE I (ex- USS PROCYON.) He graduated the year the campus at Fort Schuyler was officially dedicated as the school's first permanent shore base. During his time at NYSMMA, the school was run by one of its most visionary and long-serving superintendents, CAPT J. H. TOMB, USN (ret) who served from 1927 - 1942.

JOHN A. LASNIER, Class of 1979, died suddenly at home in North Falmouth on 30 March. He was 50 years old. A pilot with Northeast Marine Pilots, John was a member of the Boston Marine Society and the American Legion. He is survived by his wife, Sharon and four children.

EDWARD M. LEVEY, Class of 1945, a 24 year member of the New York Police Department Harbor Unit, died on 20 April at the age of 82. According to an obituary in the Hartford Courant, Levey, "...was a World War II veteran serving in the U.S. Coast Guard/Merchant Marine and a retired Commander in the U.S. Navy." A resident of Cheshire, CT, he is survived his wife, Catherine, three daughters and two sons.

MARTIN A. BRODERS, Class of 1955, a long time resident of Tennessee, died on 15 February at the age of 75. His Knoxville News Sentinel obituary noted that after graduating from Fort Schuyler, "...he was assigned to the Navy Department in Washington, D.C. As a civilian, Martin worked as an engineer in Chattanooga and Oak Ridge [National Laboratory] where he retired after 33 years." He is survived by his wife Charlotte, a son and two step-children.

WELCOME COMPETITION - Hats off to the Maritime College Office of Communications for increasing its posting of news of interest to alumni and friends of Fort Schuyler on the college website. Recently it noted the death of Richard Love and provided an update on the progress of the sailing team. Check it out at www.sunymaritime.edu and stay even more up to date on things Maritime.

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Richard Corson - Forest Hills, NY

Latitude 40.716N Longitude 73.85W

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