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

   The Class of 1955 Annual Dark Ages Party was a blast! It took place at the Belle Haven Country Club, Alexandria on 8 March, courtesy of Don Kellerman, chief organizer and convivial host. His masterful scheduling provided an ideal balance between pre-dining "socializing" and the meal itself. The food was delicious and the ambience grand, as attested to by Marlene and Al Dawson, Joan and Jack McNish, Marilyn and Erns Anderson, Luz and Todd Meloy, Nancy and Bob Hinton, Ursula and Tom Kiefaber, Jackie and Mort Rubenstein, Angela and Demo Kolaras, Nancy and Don Kellerman, Jean and Darrel Westbrook, Mary Gale Buchanan, Eileen and Fred Koester, Roz and Mal MacKinnon, Del and Charlie Senn, Debbie and John Adams, Ann and Jerry Holland, Ginny and Don Connor, Pat and Kent Drummond, Joan Hamilton and Tom McIsaac, Lucy and Hank Mustin, Sally and Hartley Holte, Margery and Tom Stallman, Virginia Wyman and Ray Hine, Ann and Wes Saunders, Beryl and Dan Ebert, Anne and Ted Parker, Peggy and Otto Zipf, Cyd and Fred Tolleson, Mary and John Anderson, and Denny Sullivan.

   Another interesting input from Fred McLaren, president emeritus of the Explorers Club:

   I have just completed world's first underwater flight school set up in the Bahamas during February by famed submersible designer and builder, Graham Hawkes, to qualify and certify the first "pilot" candidates to "fly" his high performance "winged" submersible, "Deep Flight Aviator." Thanks to already being an instrument rated private pilot with aerobatics training plus previous small submersible experience, I was chosen to be in the first class of two and am now the very first and only one to qualify at the highest rating, "Pilot in Command." "Deep Flight Aviator" is battery powered, highly maneuverable, can accelerate up to 10 kts, and is capable of operating at depths to 1,500 feet. It can remain at sea for up to six hours. It handles beautifully, and will be ideal for searching for and investigating off shore marine archaeological sites, not to mention observing and recording marine life, and general environmental conditions within her depth and range capabilities. I will be working with Graham Hawkes during the coming year during expeditions to the Sea of Cortez and several very large lakes in the North American continent. Attached please find a picture of "Deep Flight Aviator" at a depth of 60 feet, off the southwest coast of Paradise Island in the Bahamas. I am in the front cockpit and Graham Hawkes is in the after one.

Potpourri

   Classmates gathered in Coronado Cays on 1 February, to celebrate Chinese New Year. They rang in the Year of the Goat (a good omen for Navy). All were dressed in red in accordance with Chinese custom. Attendees included: Donna and Bill Ball, Jo and Roger Coffey, Lynne and Ned Floyd, Dick Jones, Lilia and Jerry Kowalsky, Al Kozischek with Mary Ann Anderson, Ray Medeiros with Barbara Oblinger, Penny and John Nyquist, Tulia and Bob O'Lear, Bob Price, Peggy and Hugh Webster, and Karen and Bob Weir. Don Kellerman and Fred Tolleson trekked into the hinterlands of Montana recently to communicate with nature and bag a few trophies. One can be seen in the enclosed photo below. In late February, a sizable group of '55ers spent a very enjoyable evening having dinner at the USNA O'Club followed by the Midshipmen production of "Little House of Horrors." Among those attending were (pictured): Sally and Hartley Holte, Cyd and Fred Tolleson, Tom McIsaac with Joan Hamilton, Jean and Darrel Westbook, Jackie and Mort Rubenstein, Ann and Wes Saunders, Betsey and Bob Fountain, and Debbie and John Adams. A "well-known" gathering place for relaxation, suds-consumption, and serious shuffleboard called "Town Hall," burned down in mid-February. Town Hall was located in Riverdale (outside the 7-mile limit) on the Magothy River, between Annapolis and Glen Burnie. Many of us, I'm sure, will bow our heads in silent tribute to the passing of a landmark palace of pleasure and fond memories. Snapped at the Navy football banquet in February were the Adams' and the MacKinnons. I ran into Dave Koonce at the Navy-Rutgers lacrosse game. He and his wife still run a B&B on Cape Cod and they are building a place in St. Johns, VI. Dave is still working, but plans to retire soon and spend time between their "vacation sites."

   The 2003 Golf program for the Class of '55 in the metro area was included in the overall social calendar announcement in this column several issues ago. To highlight it properly, it is repeated:

Date   Time   Host    Facility/Course

21 May   2 p.m.   R. Hine/J. Poole Renditions GC

17 June   10:30 a.m.   T. Bracken    Army-Navy Fairfax

15 July   11 a.m.   J. Chmelik    Whiskey Creek GC

19 Aug.   2 p.m.   D. Kellerman    Bell Have CC

17 Sept.   11 a.m.   H. Holte    Annapolis GC

14 Oct.   1 p.m.    R. Hine    Hidden Creek CC

   Most of the matches are scheduled for the third Tuesday of each month. Please contact the host three-four days in advance of each outing to confirm attendance. The Class Challenge ('55 vs. '57) will be played at the Renditions, a relatively new course outside of Annapolis that replicates 18 of the most renowned holes in golf. Please inform Ray Hine two weeks in advance of your intentions to play as our '57 hosts like to have the pairings well scheduled in advance. This is one of the major golfing events of the season. Joe Chmelik has scheduled Whiskey Creek GC in Urbanna, MD, one of the most eminent new courses in the metro area. Joe will host a dinner at his nearby home following golf. Don Kellerman will host a dinner following the outing at the newly revitalized Bell Haven CC. The final event of the season will include an awards dinner following golf. This is usually a fun evening for all (non-golfers welcome) with toasts and boasts for everyone.