Pres: LCDR Dennis Sullivan, USN (Ret.)
Sec’y: CAPT Thomas G. Kiefaber, USN (Ret.)
11814 Triple Crown Road, Reston, VA 20191

   Homecoming 2002 was well attended by the Class of 1955. Some of us kicked off the festivities on Friday, attending the All Alumni Party in Alumni Hall. Seen at that gala were Denny Sullivan, Tom Kiefaber, John Kiefaber '97, Anne and Ted Parker, Margot and Gary Snyder, Peggy and Otto Zipf, Tom Stallman, Betsey and Bob Fountain, and Sabra and Bill Kennington. On Saturday before and after the game (to that point, Navy's worst of the season), a large contingent of '55ers could be found at our tailgate site, whooping it up in spite of the game's outcome. A good part of the crowd gathered at Alumni House later for the '55 party (with five designated members of the Class of 2005). Attending were Denny Sullivan, Tom Stallman, Betsey and Bob Fountain, Joan and Dick Morgan, Peggy and Otto Zipf, Lucy and Hank Mustin, Sally and Hartley Holte, Ray Hine and Virginia Wyman, Margot and Gary Snyder, Spud Flowers and Jan Massey, Anne and Ted Parker, Jimmy Mitchell, Betty and Tom Cann, Ann and Wes Saunders, Dottie and George W. Martin, Herb Gamache, Roz and Mal MacKinnon, Leslie and Jack Baldwin, Tom Kiefaber, Judy and Bill Manthorpe, Sheila and Cal Weaver, Delores and Monroe Hatch, Debbie and John Adams, and Bumpsie and Ace Davis.

   The sixth golf tournament of the year for the Washington area Class of '55 was held at the Army-Navy Country Club in Fairfax on 17 September. Denny Sullivan was the host. Twelve golfers showed up, including Ray Hine, Tom Schultz, Lucy and Hank Mustin, Dick Peterson, Hartley Holte, Denny Sullivan, Ted Parker with his son-in-law, Steve Slough, John Adams, and Joe Chmelik with his son, Tony. Steve Slough's father graduated from USNA with the Class of 1956. He was a submariner and, prior to his death, a good friend of Denny Sullivan. Lucy Mustin's team came in the winner, supported by her hole-in-one on the par three eighth hole of 132 yards—a mere flick of the wrist for mighty Lucy. All celebrated nicely following the match as shown in the accompanying photos. The last event of the season was a match and banquet held at Hidden Creek Country Club on 22 October where prizes will be awarded and achievements noted.

   Fred McLaren, our Class Explorer Par Excellence, reports on his latest endeavor:

   I have just returned from my second dive, using the Russian deep-diving MIR submersibles, to the German battleship BISMARCK at a depth of almost 16,000 feet beneath the sea, some 380 nm SW of Cobh, Ireland. We made three dives between 31 July and 4 August 2002 and thoroughly filmed BISMARCK, using high definition cameras, from stem to stern, port and starboard, and to below the waterline. The fact that we sighted no projectile or torpedo holes below or even near BISMARCK's waterline further confirms last year's conclusion that BISMARCK sank as a result of crew scuttling. Also making a dive during the operation was Don Walsh '54. Above please find a picture of (from right to left) of me with Professor Anatoly Sagalevitch of the P.P. Shirshov, Russian Academy of Sciences, and Mike McDowell, president of Deep Ocean Expeditions, on 2 August 2002 just before our over 12 hour dive down to BISMARCK to
thoroughly film him.

Potpourri

   John Roberts recently attended an inspirational two-day Men's Prayer Retreat led by Dr. Alex B. Aronis in the Hampton Roads, VA, area. On the Sunday after the retreat, Marleen and Carl Braun, Joanne and John Roberts, and Bill Rentz, plus Hampton Roads members of his family, were present for Alex's sermon. Early Sunday evening Alex and his wife, Carol, attended the annual festivities involved with closing down Betty and Tony Hastoglis' summer home at Sandbridge. After Tony and Alex exchanged greetings in Greek, the sea stories flowed. These activities followed the spectacular Outer Banks/Tidewater Luncheon reported in the last column. Six photos are included herein taken at that soiree.

   Congratulations to John Camp who was recently appointed as a national director of the Navy League. The Keifaber's recently hosted a 19th Company party at their home in Reston, VA. Attending were Phyllis and John Ganey, Tom Davis, Fran and Jim Perrryman, Ann and Ted Parker, and John Gallagher. The Ganeys and Tom Davis were out-of-town guests.