Dates for our 45th Reunion are October 26-29, 2000, an "off-Homecoming" weekend. Details will be provided in Shipmate, via letter and on the '55 Net. If you have any ideas, put them on our Listserv or call Tom Kiefaber at (703) 759-7743 or another Washington area Classmate. Letters to classmates regarding this reunion will be put on this Website for classmates to read and copies of forms in case they have lost their copy. Click here for the January 2000 letter from Dennis Sullivan.

55 SHIPMATE COLUMN - September '00
 

Homecoming on October 20-22 is eclipsed by our 45th reunion during the following week.  The Homecoming Weekend will feature a Friday parade honoring Bill Anders (among others) as a Distinguished Graduate.  There will be an Alumni Association cocktail party at 5pm in Alumni Hall with a possible performance by the Glee Club or another Academy musical group.  On Saturday before the game, the Class will have the usual tailgate in the usual place starting about 10am.  There will not be a planned party after the game because of its close proximity to our reunion activities.

The Class is planning a tailgate party at the Army-Navy game in Baltimore on December 2.  We may also charter a bus from DC to and from the game.  Plans are not yet firm - watch this space (and '55 listserv) for further details.

A Class of 1955 Summer Soiree was held at the Army-Navy Country Club in Arlington VA on June 14.  The party - very capably arranged by Denny Sullivan - was especially to greet submariner classmates who were in town for the Submarine League's Convention and celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Submarine Force.  Attending were: Angela & Demo Kolaras, Ann & Wes Saunders, Sabra & Bill Kennington, Peggy & Otto Zipf, Ann & Jerry Holland, Sally & Hartley Holte, Sabra & Bill Smith, Lynne & Ned Floyd, Phyllis & Paul Grozen, Ros & Mal MacKinnon, Betsey & Bob Fountain, Ursula & Tom Kiefaber (non-sub), Chic Cicolani & Christine Blair, Jean & Darrel Westbrook (non-sub), Luz & Todd Meloy, Donna & Dick Peterson, Marlene & Al Dawson, Jean & Norm Harper, Marion & Don Shelton, Barbara & Glenn Arthur, Denny Sullivan, and non-55er Bob & Susan Morrison.  Out-of-towners were the Sheltons, Floyds, Grozens, and the Arthurs.  Todd Meloy's display of memorabilia kit items for the 45th was well received.

'55ers in the San Diego area met for lunch at the Officers' Club, Miramar MCAS, on May 25.  Attendees included: Lynne & Ned Floyd, Charles Hagee, Bob Hammond, Jim Kelly, Ray Medeiros with Barbara Obinger, Carol Schrader (Harry's widow) and Peggy & Hugh Webster.  The group had a good time and managed not to solve any political or social issues during lunch.

The latest episode of Otto Zipf's globetrotting adventures continues:
 

Peggy and I spent three grand weeks in Spain during April.  We were in Sevilla for two of the three weeks. Our first week in Sevilla was for Semana Santa (Holy Week).  We cannot imagine that there is any better place in the world to be than Sevilla for this most holy and important week of the year.  It is a very memorable series of religious pageantry and processions.  After Semana Santa, we spent what has become our annual week in Marbella on the Costa del Sol.  Then we headed back to Sevilla for the annual April Feria (fair).  This is a large festive celebration that goes on daily for an entire week, and also marks the start of the bullfighting season for Sevilla.  The enclosed picture shows Peggy and me joining in with the hordes of Spaniards who really made us feel that we were a part of their annual celebration.  There were over 1,000 casetas (stalls), each of which becomes a venue for groups of partygoers. (PHOTO #1, "Otto & Peggy celebrating")

The recipient of the Otto A. Zipf Scholarship for two years of graduate study at the University of Heidelberg is ENS Matthew Gull, USNR, from the Salt Lake City Utah area.  He is shown here with Otto on Commissioning Day for the Class of 2000. (PHOTO #2, "Otto with his scholar")

Otto also reported that he saw where our Classmate, Robert B. (Robin) Pirie, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations and Environment) took part in the ceremony closing the Annapolis Laboratory in the fall of 1999.  Otto believes that our Classmate, Ed Ogden (Otrupchak), was OIC of the lab as an ED Captain just prior to his retirement from active duty.

Al "King" Kozischek sent in the following:
 

A snapshot from our latest travels - May 31 to June 5.  Drove to Zion National Park and then on to Bryce Canyon National Park.  Great trip!  Mary Ann and I have never been there before.  The scenery was breathtaking.  We had temperatures in the 100s.  The enclosed picture was taken at Bryce Canyon with the "Hoodoos" in the background.  We took some strenuous hikes to the canyon floor.  My motto is still, "Nothing to do and all day to do it in."  Looking forward to the 45th! (PHOTO #3, "Koz & Mary Ann at Bryce Canyon National Park")

I regret to inform that our Classmate Roderick S. Dickens Jr. was found slain in his home in North Jacksonville FL on June 9.  He was in the 24th company and spent six years on active duty as a naval aviator.  Dickens, known by students and faculty as Mr. Physics, taught physics at Forrest High School in Jacksonville for 37 years before retiring in 1998. Billy Parker, the school's principal at the time, said "Dickens was the finest teacher that God ever put in the science department.  He did so many things for so many children. I have never, ever had a better teacher more dedicated to children and schools."  Throughout his career, Dickens was honored with numerous national and local teaching awards, including being one of five teachers nationwide to receive the innovative teaching in physics award in 1971.  Dickens also was named Duval Teacher of the Year in 1984, given the Presidential Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Science and named a runner-up for the Florida Teacher of the Year in 1987. Then, in 1990, he was inducted into the Duval County Teacher's Hall of Fame.

Nineteen classmates and spouses have signed up for a tennis round robin at our 45th.  It will be at 1100 on Friday, October 27, at the Academy courts.  Players of all skill levels are welcome.  Classmates wanting to participate can sign up upon arrival, or email Jack Tallman at jacksplace@neworld.net, or drop a card to him at 389  Alpine Dr., Colfax, CA 95713.

HEARD IT ON THE GRAPEVINE ('55 Listserv).  Dick Mieldazis started an avalanche of first car remembrances with his vignette about Cars at USNA.  Joe Armstrong and Larry Frost shared their thoughts on how USNA prepares its graduates to be leaders in both military and civilian life.  Gary Snyder (RVer) and Gordon Guimond (cruise shipper) delighted us with trip reports regarding their Alaskan vacations.  Norm Palladino with updates about the latest additions/improvements to the '55 Website.  Bob Price (ex-stockbroker par excellent) with his mutual fund picks of the month.  And the jokemongers.

Heard from Paul Sutherland:
 

I have enclosed a picture of Diane & Tom Schultz.  Pat & I had the good fortune to bend an elbow with them and then share their company at dinner at our favorite restaurant - Carolina Blue.  Unfortunately, Lyn & Dan Shields were not available to join the "class meeting & dinner."  Tom & Diane were visiting the Outer Banks for a long weekend in early June.  Tom's son had a vacation rental on Hatteras Island and they came up to the Southern Shores area for golf and joined us afterwards.  Unfortunately, I was unable to golf with them as town duties just got in the way.  Guess that is the down side of political life!  The good life continues on the Outer Banks so Pat and I welcome all classmates coming to the Outer Banks to join us for good times. (PHOTO #4, "Tom & Diane Schultz")

POTPOURRI.  In June, Vern Carlson went on a grand tour of Nordic countries (Oslo Norway, Stockholm Sweden, and Helsinki Finland).  He expected to be back in La Jolla CA by July12, then on to Minnesota (HS 50th), Costa Rica (coffee bean picking time), and finally to our 45th.  Tim Sandmeyer writes that another of our Classmates has surfaced (to use a submariners term) - Bill Forbes and his wife Beth. They are residing in Mount Dora FL.  "We had a mini/micro class reunion here in Vero Beach recently, along with Edna & RipWieler.  Rip, Bill and myself served in the Philippines in the mid to late '50s."  John DeZell joined the Neighbors of Woodcraft staff in March. Immediately prior, he was the Field Manager of the Oregon Territory for Royal Neighbors of America where he recruited and trained field representatives.  John will perform similar duties as Neighbors' Regional Sales Manager. The Washington DC area Dark Ages Party is scheduled for March 3, 2001 at Hidden Creek Country Club in Reston VA.  Ray Hine will host - Hidden Creek being "his house."

Class Membership in Alumni Association: Annual - 39%, Life - 30%.
 
 

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