Did you miss last month's issue?  October Issue

The '55 San Diego Reunion was a great success according to several phone calls received - thanks to Ned Floyd (18), Tom Boucher (7), and Tom Shine (21), and others who made it all happen. Hopefully more details and pictures will be included in future issues. I do know 57 Classmates attended. Your correspondent was unable to attend due to a number of circumstances, chief of which was our house move on the 3rd of September. Saved by the bell! - Just received the following two inputs as well as some reunion photos from Denny Sullivan (13) as I was about to submit this.

Heard from Jack Tallman (5):

Thank you Ned Floyd, Tom Boucher, and Tom Shine for your Class of '55 Reunion West last week in San Diego. It was a singularly memorable experience. The many '55 functions during the week were perfectly planned, skillfully orchestrated, and admirably executed. The long year of preparation and hard work culminating in the frenzy of activity spanning Tuesday through Sunday are among the most generous of gifts. And we, your friends who benefited from your thoroughness of detail and selfless labor, are grateful indeed. For those not fortunate enough to attend, these three gents put on a world class act every night except Thursday night (when Conlin Dodds put on a non-function.) From the dinner at Coronado Cays, to the Sub Base at Ballast Point, to the poolside at the Hanalei, to MexPac, every venue was just right for the occasion and comestibles were always in ample quantity. The '55 Hospitality Suite at the Hanalei was seemingly manned around the clock by Ned, Tom, and Tom, plus other good souls either very generous or very thirsty (yeah, you Medeiros!). Our Pres, Denny Sullivan, and the San Diego cadre, Hugh Webster (12), Bob Price (6), and undoubtedly others, made major contributions. Humble thanks to you all.

Gary Snyder (1) reported that their attendance at the San Diego Reunion was great:

Six days were filled with activities (mostly eating) associated with the Naval Academy reunion. Everything which was managed by someone in our class was executed with flair and precision. There was a big flap over the Alumni-wide reception, however. (This has probably been explained already by USNAAA). Lots of pictures will be available to you early in October. Al Kozischek (2) did a great job of cheer leading, both at the game and at some of the events.

Pat & Paul Sutherland (7) have been visited a lot lately and have forwarded some pictures to prove it. Betty & Bill Lavallee (8) spent a few days with the Sutherlands while traveling east from Dallas to visit their daughter in Annapolis. They are both retired and enjoying life. They will be part of the Panama Canal cruise group (5-16 March '98; see May '97 column) which is up to 25. Gwen & Frank Farino (10) joined the Sutherlands for a few cocktails while down to the Outer Banks to see their grandchildren. Frank & Paul naturally had the opportunity to hit the little white ball around the pasture. Ursula & I had the chance to see Pat & Paul and Dan Shields (16) at Sunday brunch at their local country club recently. Lynn & Dan's new address is: 41 Eagle's Nest Lane, Southern Shores, NC 27949.

John R. Richards (16) writes about the transition of getting over the grief connected with his wife Jeannette's death last year and getting on with his life. He has been helped in this process by her spiritual presence. He is working on his doctorate in clinical hypnotherapy and dabbling with writing a couple of books. One is fictionally set in the Naval reserve on the Great Lakes (with a heavy dose of metaphysics), and the other book is about Jeannette.

For now, I've held on to our twin dome home in the mountains of NE Georgia.

We jokingly call it "Inshallah (God willing) Hollow" or "Dollywood II." Films made in the area include "The Great Locomotive chase" and "Deliverance", so you've an idea of the scenery. The kids understand they can base operations here. Lots to see and do (Tallulah Gorge, white water rafting, hiking and many waterfalls, Foxfire Museum, etc.), and we're two hours to Atlanta or Ashville. Ditto the offer for classmates. Sheryl Webster (enclosed photo), whom we'd known casually for several years, now rents the other dome for her studio. She's an accomplished portrait, landscape and etheric spiritual artist. She's also a former deputy sheriff from Texas with a black belt and 25 years experience in Aikido - and she shoots her .45 S&W better than I my 9mm Beretta. So I'm very nice to her. I'm also taking Aikido. Do drop in. Classmates should feel right at home. It's a great life. Love and Light.

John "JV" Harter (21) sends greetings from the Gulf Coast in Mississippi:

I moved from Metairie, Louisiana to Wavelkand, MS on 25 April to get out of traffic and crime and to enjoy the great outdoors once again. On 14 June I broke both heels and tore up the nerves and ligaments in one foot. The bottom of extension ladder slipped while hanging picture 15 feet up a wall. "Stupid is as stupid does". Nine weeks later I am on crutches, do 1.5 hours of physical therapy in swimming pool every day. I am still very active as a consulting engineer in underwater engineering of waterfront facilities, marine vapor control system certification, electric power generation conceptual design and feasibility studies for foreign projects. (St. John's, Newfoundland is the latest location). In between time, I attend the University of New Orleans on a one course per semester basis in an attempt to gain a Masters in Naval Architecture. Nothing like hydrodynamics to clean out the cob webs! I have lost contact with the New Orleans alumni chapter except for Bill Sherer ('51) who some of you may remember as the skipper of the Highland Light during our plebe year. If there are any classmates on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, please give me a call at (601) 463-0044 to arrange a get- together.

HEARD IT ON THE GRAPEVINE ('55 Net).

More subscribers! Welcome to: Tom Shine - tompat@pacbell.net; Bob Strange (24) - RCS55o24@aol.com; Si Ulcickas (19) - simonsays@ibm.net; Ray Medeiros (3) - BJOBIE@worldnet.att.net; Wally Olsen (2) - WALLYPEGGY@aol.com; Smoke Wilson (17) - jrsmoke@juno.com; Don May (5) - dmay@netvalue.net, and Hal Pabst (17) - HALANDOT@aol.com.

Gary Snyder sent this over the wire: Margo and I are in day 32 of our 65 day trip through the west. We are now in California and gearing up for all of the activities in San Diego. I hope that all of the important things like football tickets and reservations for the many events have made their way west to Ned Floyd's home. (covered earlier in this column). We are travelling with our 32 foot vacation trailer, towed with our Dodge van. It pulls effortlessly, even over 11,000 foot mountain passes where cars in general do not do well. Things are going well. We forgot a few things but nothing of importance. I think that no one can go on a 65 day trip and not end up missing a few items or wishing that something had been done differently. Right now we are in Kings Canyon National Park. We are hoping to add a rafting trip down the Colorado to our schedule. That and a day or two in the Shenandoah National park will extend our overall trip to 68 or 69 days. E-mail is sent and received occasionally, when we have acess to a telephone. Will miss the first home game back at USNA, but will see some of you at later games and at San Diego.

Jack Tallman reported that Bill Anders (22) qualified at The Reno Air Races in a P51D, "Val-Halla", with a speed of 371.364 mph.

The '55 Web site has a new address and can now be accessed through index.html.

That's all!

Conceptual planning for the 45th Reunion has begun. Dates are October 18-22, 2000 and the Saturday football game is with Rutgers. We have over 100 rooms reserved at the Annapolis Marriott which is on the waterfront within walking distance of the Yard. We also have additional rooms reserved at the Days Inn on Route 50 (same as for the 40th). We still have a long way to go - if you have any ideas, put them on our Listserv or call me at (703) 759-7743 or another Washington area Classmate.

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