News From Fort Schuyler

July 14, 2008 - Volume 8, No. 23

YEOMAN SERVICE - Prof. Emeritus JOE MCNEILL '48, noting the recent return of the EMPIRE STATE VI, recalled that three of his sons, Paul, Brian and Joe, each made two summer cruises as yeoman aboard the training ship. Today they are a vascular surgeon, company president/CEO, and Marketing Director, respectively. Joe and family just returned from a roots trip to the Lower Hebrides, "...tracing our McNeill roots on the Isle of Barra. We were successful and found where our forebears lived."

LET'S HEAR IT FROM THE ENGINEERS - A long-time contributor to NFFS, BOB SCHWIEGER ' 64, follows the life and times of Fort Schuylerites by reading all the postings from the college and the alumni associations, "...but I'm old fashioned: I want my news delivered, which includes The Wall Street Journal. I'll pan for gold, but not for news. That's why the Corson chronicles are so valuable ' you look up and there they are. And they come almost every week, so the info is current ' as far as we know.....But a shortcoming ... is that there's too much stuff from the 'deckies.' There probably are a few real good reasons for his. For example their course of study was easier than the engineering program, so there are more of them. Many went into the military, so they have done more things of historical significance, which most people (like me) like to read about. Many others spent their time on deck looking out on a barren ocean and had plenty of time to write the books that Corson's always talking about; engineers, of course, were busy below decks trying to keep the screw turning and had little time to be creative. And let's not forget that engineers typically are loathe to write anything lest the world learn they can't spell worth a darn."

Perhaps atypically then, Bob has spent the past 35 years writing and thinking about power engineering, first as the Editor of McGraw-Hill's Power Magazine, and then five years ago he started the Combined Cycle Journal. "For those lucky enough not to know me, I'm a bona fide power-plant junkie. I was taught by the best - in particular Chief ED PFLEGING, who unfortunately answered the inevitable 'stop' bell several months ago. Through 'The Chief' I developed an appreciation for those who are smart enough to design, build, operate, and maintain the generating plants that have provided the foundation for the great American economy."

[Stay tuned for a rundown of some of those Fort Schuyler power engineers in the next NFFS.]

HONOREE - As a result of outstanding service to his community, ROGER G. BROW '85 will be awarded the Malcolm "Skipp" Popp Award on 15 September in Bowie, MD. Roger has been active in scouting for years, and as his nomination stated, "When Roger sees a need, he takes the initiative to meet the challenge. Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts in the Bowie Area are much better for it." In his professional life, Roger is Deputy Program Manager at Alion Science and Technology Integrations Solutions Group in Washington, DC.

1956 REUNION - The Class of 1956, the school's 100th Graduating Class, spent a weekend in San Francisco and another three days in Yosemite National Park from June 23-26. participating were: ANDERSON, BONADIES, BRACKEN, FALBO, FIREY, GAGLIANO, JAYNE, LOWN, MALONEY, MILLIGAN, NEMETH, OLSON, PIERPONT and RANDALL.

WHEN IN FRANCE- The College website contains an interesting article by ADM CRAINE, "A Trip to Maison Racine," about a visit by 52 officers and cadets from the Training Ship to the country house of a graduate of the Class of October 1946, CHARLES STROMMER. Check it out at www.sunymaritime.edu

EBB TIDE -

MATTHEW M. DRAG, '40, died on June 6, 2008 at the age of 89. Matt, a lifelong mariner, spent a year sailing as an Ordinary Seaman before entering the college in 1938. He sailed throughout World War II, receiving his Master's ticket in 1945. In an oral history he did for Rutgers University he recalls bringing a cargo of bombs to Liverpool (one of this year's cruise ports) during the war, at the height of that port's bombing. At the conclusion of his watch he headed for the relative safety of the city. When he returned a longshoremen called to him: "'I see you've gotten off the ship, Mate....You're foolish. Jerry aims to the ship. They blast the surrounding area, but they always miss. You stay here and your safest ride is aboard ship.' And there we are a ship full of bombs! And true enough, every night there were air raids and guns and fire and blasting and that, and we managed and survived." Http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/Interviews/drag_matthew.html

WILLIAM GABELER '45 a resident of Melbourne, Florida died on May 14, 2008. After graduation he served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater. A native of Gloversville, NY, he ran an insurance agency there for 40 years. He spent his last 21 years in Florida. Throughout his life Bill was active in youth organizations such as YMCA, Big Brother, Pop Warner football and American Legion baseball. According to an obituary in the Gloversville Leader Herald: "During summer vacations, the Gabelers traveled with circuses, including Clyde Beatty & Cole Brothers. .... Bill was known as 'Gabby the Clown.' He also had a Clown Magic and Puppet show that he presented at schools and private parties. He was assisted in his shows by his children, grandchildren..." He is survived by his wife, Sally, three children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. (www.leaderherald.com)

JAMES F. GIBSON '55 died on May 25, 2008 after a long illness. His classmate, PHIL BERNS, posted a memorial on the alumni association website, writing in part: "I first 'really' met Jay on our first cruise when we were celebrating our first assignment to L Division and the mess hall and we were volunteered by the upper classman Division leader to grind the garbage. As happens when an Irishman and a Jew get together and there's no whiskey or Manischewitz available we spent a lot of time between garbage pails discussing our philosophy of life. We enjoyed it so much and, also, having concluded that the assignment fit us perfectly, when we were later assigned for another stint with the L Division he and I volunteered for the garbage grinding. This evolved into a lifelong friendship, thousands of bad jokes, and his acting as best man at my wedding!" (For Phil's full Ebb Tide note go to www.fsmaa.org )

GABRIEL A. DE VITTO '57 died in Kennett Square, PA on Jun 6, 2008. He was 72. A marine engineering major, he served as a Navy pilot for six years after graduation. "While commissioned aboard the U.S.S. LAKE CHAMPLAIN Gabe flew one of the helicopters that photographed the landing and recovery of the first American astronaut, Alan Sheppard."

Gabe worked for DuPont Company for 30 years and retired in 1993. In retirement he did consulting work and "...served on the Board of Brandywine International, Ltd., an international company with an Auntie Anne's Pretzel franchise in Hong Kong." He is survived by Pat, his wife of 44 years, two children and three grandchildren. ( www.delawareonline.com/mova.cgi-bin/mova?obits.mv+77741)

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Richard Corson - Forest Hills, NY

Latitude 40.716N Longitude 73.85W

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