News From Fort Schuyler

March 23, 2009 - Volume 9, No. 14

N/S SAVANNAH - It turns out that a number of Fort Schuyler graduates were associated with America's first commercial nuclear cargo vessel. For example, FRANK HANLEY '44 writes: "It is my recollection that the first master of the SAVANNAH was a Captain named BLOCK '43 and that a former instructor at the Fort named SNOW served aboard as well. I'm sure there were others - probably engineers." TED SERGIO '58 writes that: "I was aboard her from 1963 to 1965, having first gone aboard in the Todd Shipyard at Galveston, Texas. I then went to Nuclear Reactor School at USMMA at Kings Point. After graduating nuclear school, I sailed aboard her until 1965. JOE KRIKAWA '57 worked for Babcock and Wilcox on the power plant and then sailed on the SAVANNAH. "Worked for B&W and did engineering and design on three systems. Part of the training team for the first crew (States Marine Line) and MARAD, Coast Guard, shipping company reps. Was at New York Shipbuilding during construction and early first phase testing. Later sailed as a Third Engineer reactor operator (with American Export-Isbrandsen). Was on watch the night the reactor scrammed during Hurricane Ethel (I believe) Fun time?" [Note: This September 1960 storm was for a brief time a Category 5 hurricane.] "In 2007 I turned over all my SAVANNAH info to the Museum at Schuyler." The Chairman of the Maritime College's Professional Education & Training Department, CAPT ERNIE FINK, writes:"JOHN ALBINO '56 was part of the original crew selected by MARAD to sail the SAVANNAH. In 1961 he was one of only 17 individuals considered competent to operate the SAVANNAH's nuclear reactor. The endorsement to his Second Assistant Engineer's license read: 'Certified by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission as Reactor Operator on N.S. SAVANNAH.'"

FOND FAREWELL - After 19 years as catalog librarian at the Stephen B. Luce Library, ELIZABETH LESCHINSKY bid adieu on 17 March to colleagues, friends and the Maritime College at a retirement party held at the Student Activities Building. Liza was not only showered with affectionate tributes, recollections, and flowers by the attendees, but she movingly recounted for us the people and events in life's journey that brought her from Moscow to Fort Schuyler. Liza, an accomplished photographer and music lover, has her retirement plans all lined up - to enjoy, with her many friends, the sights and sounds of her beloved New York City. Liza will certainly put her retirement present of a Ticketmaster gift certificate to good use. Among those attending this event were past and present staff, including: JOE HOFFMAN '75, FIL MAGAVERO, JOHN LEE, JANE FITZPATRICK, KAREN MARKOE, JULIE WOSK, GIL TRAUB, ED TASSINARI, SHAFEEK FAZAL, ALICIA JOSEPH, FELICIA BERKE, JOHANNA DEVLIN, EILEEN KEFFNER, and ESTHER CARSTENSEN.

SCHUYLER WINTER - A recent Ebb Tide item prompted OTTO LIEPIN Oct '46 to write. "I have some memories regarding 'Mr. Schnyder'. We bunked in the same compartment at the old Fort. There were four upper classmen in this compartment and the rest were lower classmen. Old 'Scoop', as he was called by his classmates, had a top bunk next to the large porthole. He was a 'fresh air nut' and would have us open the porthole wide open - needed fresh air. During the night he and his other first class buddies would get cold and they would have the lower classmen 'give up' one of their two blankets - so that each first classman had at least three blankets - and we would spend the night shivering - the upshot of this 'mug beating' was that Mr. Schnyder came down with a doozy of a cold, whereas the lower classmen managed to survived the middle of January miseries and we were able to enjoy our weekend liberty - the upperclassmen were in sick bay." [Revenge is a dish best served cold?]

SCHUYLER SUMMER - If you know a college student who needs to take a summer course, recommend Fort Schuyler. The Maritime College will be offering 124 undergraduate and graduate courses on campus: daytime, evening and on-line, during the Summer Sea Term period. According to Provost JOSEPH HOFFMAN, "Maritime is the place to be this summer for tri-state areas students... Students benefit by taking one or two summer classes that they may have been unable to register for at their home campus. Many students find that summer study can also make a difference in being able to complete their degree in time." (For 2009 course descriptions go to www.sunymaritime.edu)

SAY WHAT ? "We have a winter home in PR which overlooks the Vieques Channel," writes RICK BAGSHAW '62. "I used to enjoy watching the naval maneuvers from our balcony, but with the closing of the big Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, the views are more mundane: a cruise ship at night and an occasional tanker bound for the nearby Shell refinery. This week I noted a tanker on the hook for a day or so and she was smoking a good deal. I assume that virtually all handy size tankers are motor ships nowadays, so I was surprised to see that it looked like she was 'blowing tubes.' In any case, this is a no-no in terms of pollution, so I called the Coast Guard Base in Old San Juan. I told the CPO on duty what I saw and that I was concerned that the tanker appeared to be blowing tubes. HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE TERM. It's tough realizing how long ago that steam power was dominant. (I was at sea as a young 3d Assistant.)"

A FREE PIRACY SYMPOSIUM - The college's Global Business and Transportation Department is presenting a free all day program (10:00 - 16:30) entitled "In Hot pursuit of the Pirates". It will be held in the Special Events Room. Speakers are: Dr. LARRY HOWARD (Pirates: Targets for All Under International Law) - Dr. ELISSA DeFALCO (Pirates Then & Now) - Prof. JEFFREY WEISS,'78 (Piracy from an International Legal Perspective) - LARS GUSTAFSON '91 (Piracy and marine insurance markets, underwriting, etc.) For more information check the college website www.sunymaritime.edu

HOME AGAIN FOR A HERO - On April 28 the Windermere Country Club is again hosting a charity golf event as part in conjunction of Building Homes for Heroes. JOE GUSTAFSON '65 writes that: "Last year, because of help from alumni and many other generous sponsors, a mortgage and tax-free home was built in Winter Garden for Sergeant Joshua Cope ... This year we have chosen another disabled veteran, Staff Sergeant William Castillo, his wife Katherine and their 4 children, and are committed to providing them with a home as well. The Castillo family is currently renting a house that is in foreclosure..." (For full details of this very focused Florida fund-raiser go to www.ahomeforahero.org)