News From Fort Schuyler

August 17, 2009 - Volume 9, No. 33

WELCOME ABOARD - Class of 2013 orientation began on 16 August. Upon arrival they were separated from their families and processed through haircuts, vision tests, sea bag issue, etc. Then these mugs changed into their uniforms and began training with their Indoctrination Officers. The New Cadet Swearing-in Ceremony took place at 12:15, after which families were given a chance to say final goodbyes until Family Day on August 29th. At 12:45, the new students were divided into six training sections and the Class of 2013 officially began Indoctrination.

NEW FACULTY - Two new assistant professors of mathematics have been added to the Science Department staff: Dr. DEBBIE YUSTER (B.A. Cornell - M.A., M. Phil., Ph.D. Columbia) and Dr. DANIEL COLE (B.S. Yale, M.A. - Ph.D. Dartmouth). In addition, four new part-timers have joined the same department: Dr. LUCY LI (chemistry), JEFFREY GITLIN (computer science), STEPHEN OPPENHEIMER (chemistry) and ANTHONY SCHULTZ (chemistry). [www.sunymaritime.edu]

HYPATIA'S DAUGHTERS - Commenting on the male/female enrollment ratio, ROD McFADDEN '75 writes: "This would be a really good time to add that the U.S. does a rotten job of encouraging high school students, especially young women, to take math and science over and above the minimum. If you've got daughters, nieces, granddaughters give 'em - at least - some encouragement." Dr. JOSEPH HOFFMAN '75, Provost/VPAA at Fort Schuyler, adds: "We are participating in a national program (STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) seeking to get under-represented populations (this includes women) into science and engineering programs. Needless to say, four years of math and science in HS is key (try to forget that I am a little prejudiced being the former Chair of the Science Department.) [After all, Hypatia, one of the first known woman mathematicians, was credited with inventing the plane astrolabe around 1600 years ago.]

SPORTS BRIEF - An article in the Long Island Press (www.longislandpress.com/2009/08/13/suny-maritime) notes that SUNY Maritime College has 20 varsity athletic teams. The Sailing Team competes in NCAA Division I, while the other 19 are in Division III. Don't forget that the kickoff home football game against Wagner College is on Thursday, September 10 at 7P.M. [For full details go to www.maritimeathletics.com/index.aspx]

GOOD QUESTION - Will consideration need to be given to returning to two cruises per Summer Sea Term in order to accommodate increased enrollment?

CROSSING THE BAR - A brain aneurysm caused the unexpected death of DONALD "WOODY" FALLON '91 on October 7, 2008. He was 40 years old and lived in New Jersey. Don grew up in the Groton/Mystic area of Connecticut. After graduating with a degree in marine engineering, he worked in the maritime industry at sea and ashore, most recently as a harbor tug master in Bayonne, NJ. One of his eulogists, OWEN KENNY '90, a teammate on the Privateer soccer team, recalled: "His loves were boats and working in the industry. Soccer, I mean I don't even know how I can express his love for soccer. And how he would treat a single play on TV as detailed as surgery. .....We all know he lived a rich life, but when he was able to be so close so often to all is friends in New Jersey, he couldn't have been more content. Don's family was huge, it was essentially an entire town in New Jersey called Linden." He was survived by his father, sister, three nieces and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. www.currentobituary.com/Memory.aspx?Memory_ObitdID=55050 and www.virtual-memorials.com/main.php?action=view&mem_id=14896&page_no=1

The death of CHARLES M. TRISCRITTI October '46 on August 13, 2009 was reported by his classmate, EVERETT ROSENBLUM. According to the biographical profile he submitted for the 'Career Album, Class of October 1946', after Charlie graduated from Brooklyn Tech, he and his highschool classmate, Everett, entered the New York Maritime Academy where they ended up in 'Engine A'. Following graduation from Fort Schuyler, Charlie sailed for Moore-McCormack as a 4th and 3rd Assistant Engineer. "Finally I came ashore and was employed by the New York Telephone Company [Verizon]. I spent the next 37 years in many different craft and management positions until retirement. While ashore, I became an active member of the United States Naval Reserve Submarine Division, later transferring to the Surface Division. During this time I served aboard various types of ships and attended different schools, at times crossing paths with some old classmates on my yearly tour of active duty. I finally retired with the rank of LCDR-USNR R." Charles is survived by his wife, Marie, two sons, a daughter, and 5 grandchildren. Charles was waked at the Dahill Funeral Chapel in Brooklyn on August 15th and 16th. He was 83.

Founding partner of Legge, Farrow, Kimmitt, McGrath & Brown, CHRIS J. McGRATH '82, died suddenly on August 12, 2009 at the age of 49. After graduation from Fort Schuyler, Chris sailed as a deck officer on vessels conducting marine seismic surveys. He attended law school at Tulane University, where he specialized in maritime and admiralty law. As a lawyer, his practice focused on maritime and offshore oil and gas litigation on behalf of ship owners, operators, vessel charterers, plus the representation of pilots and other mariners in Coast Guard proceedings and civil litigation. Chris was also a computer maven who acted as the firm's system administrator and webmaster. According to a press release from Legge, Farrow: "Chris leaves behind his loving spouse, Michelle, and their children Corinne, Collin and Lauren." (www.leggefarrow.com) [Thanks to Richard Scricca '79 for this notification.]

Finally, the deaths of CARL 'BIG OLIE' OLSON '56 and JOHN L. O'SULLIVAN '56 were reported to NFFS by their classmate DICK BRACKEN. John died on July 16, 2009, and, according to Alice Shimshidian: "...his wife, Rosie, will have a memorial service on September 5th at St. Patrick's Cathedral at the Virgin Chapel at 6:30 p.m.)" Carl Olson will be cremated in California. There were not further details. (www.fsmaa.org)