Shipmate 55 Letterhead

Class Notes from the May-June 2004
issue of Shipmate

 Did you miss last month's class notes? All of us did since the last Notes published by the Alumni website were November 2003. Visit the Shipmate Archive (on the class Web site) or go to the Alumni Only page if you are a current member of the USNAAA. If not a current member, refer to bottom of this page.

http://www.usna.com/classes/1955
55
Annual Membership: 16%
Life Membership: 43%

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

The Washington, DC area Dark Ages Party came together very nicely on the evening of 28 February at the Army-Navy Country Club in Arlington. This was entirely due to the heroic efforts of our Class President, Denny Sullivan. He "maestroed" the evening with impeccable taste and alacrity. The fare was tasty, too! The sad news of Al Kozischek’s death was acknowledged by Denny, and he had placed at each table a small remembrance of Al. Attending were Denny Sullivan, Tom Cann and Shirley Echard, Joan and Dick Morgan, Marge and Tom Stallman, Sharon and Kirk Rowe, Ray Hine and Virginia Wyman, Peggy and Otto Zipf, Ginny and Don Conner, Beryl and Dan Ebert, Jean and Darrel Westbrook, Lucy and Hank Mustin, Jackie and Mort Rubenstein, Sally and Hartley Holte, Eileen and Fred Koester, Ann and Jerry Holland, Cyd and Fred Tolleson, Sheila and Cal Weaver, Nancy and Bob Hinton, Martha and Tony Bracken, Ann and Ted Parker, Betsey and Bob Fountain, Marlene and Al Dawson, Judy Stembel (Dave Stembel’s widow), Suzy Gardner (Geoff Gardner’s widow), Mary Gale Buchanan, Debbie and John Adams, Ursula and Tom Kiefaber, Luz and Todd Meloy, Nancy and Don Kellerman, Angela and Demo Kolaras, and Dick Peterson.

From Hartley Holte regarding 50 Years After:
Judging from the number of inquiries concerning bios and data forms - and the quantity of new responses, your Company representatives have been very proactive. We’re delighted and pleased that Classmates care enough to participate and respond. Cal Weaver has set up a post box for the receipt of funds received for donations, ads, and book purchases. We expect to send out another letter around August to ask for money commitments, so please take care of that letter when it arrives. That letter will identify the P.O. box to be used at that time. Response to our research and support needs from the Alumni Association, Foundation, Naval Institute, athletic office, Nimitz Library, and related sources continues to be superb. We are also particularly impressed with the efforts of Classmates Joe Clarkson (USAF), Rip Wieler (USMC), Harvey Burden (data management). Norm Palladino (webmeister), and, of course, the Herculean effort by Kent Drummond (lead editor) who is inputting all the bios and photos. More later.

"Taps"
It’s sad to report the passing of Classmate Albert J. Kozischek (2), who died of heart failure on 14 February in Long Beach, CA. Al was affectionately known by many nicknames, but his preference was "King Koz." You couldn’t miss him at a Navy sporting event - he invariably would rise at some point, position himself in plain view, and lead fans in Navy cheers. He was one of the unforgettable characters of our Class (incidentally, he sang "Unforgettable" in the Nat "King" Cole style). In the words of John Weaver: "Koz was a great competitor, on the football field, on the basketball court, and in life. His warm heart and wonderful sense of humor made him unique in every sense of the word. I’m sure he’s still playing a great half court game of basketball waiting for us to join him." A memorial service was held for Al in Corona Del Mar, CA, on 12 March. Afterwards, he was inurned next to his wife, Ingrid, in the Kozischek family plot. Classmates attending were Ed McHale, Joan and John Weaver, Ray Medeiros with Barbara Obinger. Paul Slack, Peggy and Hugh Webster, Madeleine and Bud Summers, and Ursula and Tom Kiefaber, Lynne and Ned Floyd, Tom Boucher, Smoky Wilson, Tom Shine, Penny and John Nyquist, Lou Gregg. Carlos McAfee. Jim DeGroff, and Frances and Ken Highfill.

It was learned recently that William E. Jerauld (18) passed away on 1 October 2003 in the Sentara Careplex Hospital in Hampton, VA. He served in the Navy Supply Corps. Willie was employed for 14 years as a social worker at the Veterans Hospital in Hampton, VA.

San Diego area Classmates were dressed in red to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Coronado Cays on 22 January. The Year of the Monkey was welcomed in with full honors and a Chinese dinner. Attendees included Valerie and Bill Anders, Donna and Bill Ball, Ten and Tom Boncher, Jo and Roger Coffey. Leslie and Joe Daniel, Lynne and Ned Floyd, Phyllis and Paul Grozen, Sandy Henry (Chuck Henry’s widow), Lavon and Dick Jones. Pat Kenny (Chuck Kenny’s widow), Ray Medeiros with Barbara Obinger, Penny and John Nyquist, Bob Price, Jack Tallman, Peggy and Hugh Webster, and Karen and Bob Weir. Sandy Henry informed
that she will move soon to Las Vegas.

Ann and John Raster recently visited Vern Carlson in La Jolla. A portion of the visit was spent combing the coastline for that "just right house" Ann had been looking for. Ann is a real estate broker and her qualifications were apparent, as she quickly moved from the "moderate" price ranges inland to the coastal mansions. John travels almost constantly on behalf of the University of Notre Dame Business School, interfacing with universities all across the southern tier of states. His expertise lies in the area of executive development in the business school setting. Vern’s memories of his roommate, John, at USNA were, however, not related to executive development. On the contrary, as an All-American lacrosse player, John spent considerable time teaching his "wives"the essentials of lacrosse (after "Taps") when all roomies, armed with lacrosse sticks and helmets, delayed "sudden death" matches in total darkness. Vern still has a bent finger to prove it! Also, John had the disturbing habit of catapulting out of his top bunk well before reveille, steping on Vern in the lower bunk to ensure he was awake and to instill in him a lifelong sense of guilt for "sleeping in" while John went on to "enrich thyself spiritually" at early morning mass. Thus, he induced in Vern a post-traumatic stress syndrome and dreams of being landed on by lacrosse players well before reveille. Vern leaves for Costa Rica soon...for Finca Castilla, his mountain plantation overlooking Lake Cachi, 25 KM SE of the capital. Vern’s mountain chalet and plantation can be viewed on www.costaricahomefinders.com.

Picked up on navy sports: Record for Career Rushing Yards per Attempt (minimum 100 attempts). Fourth Joseph Gattuso (1952-1954) 5.5.


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Tom K.

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