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You will not want to miss Homecoming 2018! Our 35th reunion plans are underway, so mark your calendar to hit KP the weekend of Sept 21-23. See our fun-filled agenda at www.KP83.org and please keep an eye on our Facebook Page for updates. Email me asap if you haven’t been receiving my quarterly emails begging for news or if you would even remotely consider being an official “sponsor” for Homecoming weekend activities (such as pay for food at Friday evening social). Info is on our site along with contact info for reunion committee members Chris Cioni, Brian Foy, Lisa Fields and Al Reeves.

Jim Storey updates his recovery:
Back at work full time for the last month. All biopsies have been negative for organ rejection. Has the DRs scratching their heads since almost everyone shows some degree of rejection. Won’t make the reunion because they won’t release me to fly until NOV. Almost back to full strength and doing normal stuff again which is a relief. It’s hell getting old!!

Mark Smith shouts:
My big news is that I have been selected as an umpire for the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA – 16-26 August. Look for me on ESPN and hopefully ABC.
Each year, sixteen umpires from around the world are invited to umpire in Williamsport, after having been recommended by the Regional Director and previously had their performance graded and recommended at a Regional tournament. This is the highest honor a volunteer Little League umpire can achieve. I have been waiting for five years for the appointment to the World Series.

Gary Graham writes:
Ray thanks for the contact info from an old friend back in flight school. I am still employed at the Washington Navy Yard working for PMS-407 where I am the Senior Aviation Manager for F-35B integration on our big deck amphibs. I speak regularly to Rudy Lupton who is now down in Norfolk working for MSC. Getting close to hanging it up for good a spending some time at home.

Doug Ullman notes:
Barbara and I moved to the Milwaukee area in July of 2016 and really love it there. We became grandparents 1/30/2017 and celebrated George Thomas Ullman’s 1st birthday recently.
I’m working as a Planning, Scheduling and Program Controls consultant, currently supporting Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson.

A.J. Murphy shares:
My older brother ’73 ran into Greg Guarisco at the Boat Show in New Orleans.
Saw Jim Quern two weeks ago in New Orleans. Always good to catch up on what the families and now grandkids are doing. With Jim retired in early 2017, and now Anne as well near the end of the year, they have a bit more time to have fun and enjoy life. Jim is still out swatting the tennis balls and running up a storm. We went out and about in the French Quarter since it was such a nice day and were able to sweet talk our way into a “backstage tour” of the St Louis Cathedral. Even got to hike up the bell tower to see the old bells and view the old time construction from the inside. Lots of steps and a bit dark, but we made it and enjoyed seeing the bones of a church that is about 300 years old!

Just back from a quick trip at the beginning of FEB, to the NYC area. Was able to connect up with Jim Proce for dinner. Had not seen each other since the reunion 10 years ago. Lots of fun and enjoyed grabbing some Italian food. Sent along a photo. Also got to hang out with Thomas Gallagher ’88, and braved the really cold weather in the city to finally get down and see the Merchant Marine Memorial at Battery Park. Also saw the Freedom Tower and memorials up close. Would suggest going there if you get the chance and go down below the tower to see the concourse and “the oculus” from the inside. Very impressive. We were able to get a picture featuring the new tower.
Headed to New Orleans this week to enjoy the parades and have fun at Mardi Gras!

John Carbone writes:
Here are some shots from our son’s wedding from the United States Naval Academy in August – Kings Pointers Class of ’83 were well represented in Annapolis that weekend and include John Carbone, Jim Goulden, Michael Keane, Mickey C, John Rhatigan, and Jim Quern & James Carbone ’79. The youngsters in the second pic are Class of ’83 Vivan Ragusa’s children Vivan Jr., Sky and Aiden.
Additionally, the third pic is from our annual Couples party down in Tequesta, Florida – again John Carbone, Jim Goulden, Michael Keane, Mickey C, Jim Quern & John Rhatigan with Class of ’79 James Carbone were in attendance! Can’t wait for the reunion with this crew!!

Rod Knecht mentions:
Thought I would share a pic of my family with you, taken last summer on my boat. My life since KP has been uneventfully pleasant… It has been fair winds and following seas since 83… I look forward to seeing you and my other classmates at the 35th reunion.

Al Reeves notes:
Enjoying retirement with my daughters and the dreaded boyfriend. Yes, I steamed the crabs! Listen up B-Splits and FAC members – we need to support the 35th year homecoming this year!!! We already have an all star commitment from the likes of Heberle, Surratt, Brennan, Morton, Brueggeman, and a cast of thousands. There is a team of people tracking down Jorgensen, McCauley, Nixon, Konstantinos and others. I have also been in contact with Jeff Coons and Joe Bishop over the years and will reach out again. How can we not have a reunion without the likes of Ed Napoli, Hector Olague and a few other 3rd Co. stalwarts? Find these guys! Finally, how awesome are Brian Foy and Ray Christensen for representing us over these years. I never knew these two all that well at KP, but I can tell you I am proud they are my friends and classmates now. God Bless Dan Russell.

Thanks Al, and to so many for providing content for all of our classmates to enjoy! We’re going to make our reunion too good to resist coming. Let us know sooner the better if you’re in. Reserving 50 rooms for our class at the same Marriott (Uniondale) as 5 years ago – for Friday and Saturday nights. We’ve reserved Land Hall for both Friday late afternoon gathering spot and for most of Saturday for welcome and tailgating. Saturday dinner at Marriott or in that vicinity. See www.KP83.org for latest details, links for reservations and payments, tons of photos from our 30th, and to check out our classmates who are defraying some of your costs as sponsors!
See you in September!

Read entire issue

No time for long intro. Our “lead story” definitely comes from Jim Storey via his mobile message to me from 11/28:

New heart and kidney installed on 3 November. All working well. Going home today. Long road to recovery but well worth it. Something for the KP article!
— I’ll say so, Jim. We all hope that recovery has gone smoothly. Jim went on to say “at UW med center. Out this afternoon. Kids brought turkey dinner. Been here for 3 months waiting. Transplants went well.”

Doug Ullman writes:
I’m a hired gun for CORTAC Group, a Program Planning, Scheduling and Earned Value Specialist. Barb and I moved to Wisconsin in the summer of 2016, from Richmond, where I had been working for Northrop Grumman on an Army contract. My oldest son Deric and his wife gave us our first grandchild in January, George Thomas Ullman. Very exciting! They live in NoVA. My younger son Drew is in Nashville doing the singer-songwriter thing. We will visit him for Thanksgiving.

Ray Christensen (aka me) enjoyed watching KP football team win their bowl game vs. Buffalo State on 11/17, ten miles from my house at UD stadium. Even better to share it with #1 fan Randy Johnson. Ironic for them to win on field where a several in our class had an unpleasant experience actually playing Delaware our own Plebe Year!

Randy notes: “We have a plebe son on the team. Haven’t missed a game all season and have actually attended most of the games dating back to 2013 as we just graduated son # 1 from USMMA who played for 4 years as well.”

Rev. Tony Hartman shares:
Oldest daughter Becca married to a great son in law Patrick Neer in the summer of 16. Just last week received the Pro-Life Hero of the Year award from A Woman’s Haven at their annual banquet. A Woman’s Haven is the premier Catholic pregnancy center in San Antonio. I’m an Anglican clergy but work closely in partnership with them.

Speaking of men of the cloth, I received an updated email address from Deacon Bob Grimaldi.

Bumper Kunkle: FYI, I am retiring on 31 Dec.

Joe Bishop catches us up:
I’ve been shipping with AMO for the past 18 years, and have recently shifted my focus from Deep Sea to the Great Lakes. Even now, as in right this minute, I’m working on the SS Philip R. Clarke as Second Assistant. It’s a more laid back life style up here, and I like being close to home. My plan is to finish out my seagoing career hauling iron ore, limestone and coal until approximately 2026 (always assuming the economy will permit it).

When I’m not working, I live in east central Florida, near the Kennedy Space Center. A few years ago, I acted on a long held desire and took the training course for my motorcycle endorsement on my drivers license.

I was about to turn 55 and figured I was about due for a midlife crisis. So I bought a Harley. Not just any Harley, either. This is a 2002 Harley Davidson Road King, Police Model. After he was retired from service (yes, my bike is definitely a ‘he’), another owner added some chrome accoutrements and changed the paint scheme to black, with a few subtle pinstripes.

Long story short, this was the bike for me from first sight. I have my own plans for a cosmetic overhaul starting in the spring to add some of my personality. Here’s a couple of pics attached. Two are of the bike (I’ve named him Nicodemus) and the other represents the sort of rider I most identify as (lol).

It seems a lot of classmates are passing through or moving to Florida, but I’ve only seen a few. Craig Ellixson lives in Orlando and makes frequent trips to Port Canaveral. He and I managed to meet up for lunch on the day of a rocket launch and had a great time catching up. A little further back, Mike Booth and his wonderful wife joined me for dinner (also out at the Port), as Mike makes regular visits to see his parents in nearby Melbourne. At various times over the past few years I’ve had lengthy phone conversations with Art Burns, Al Reeves, and the inimitable John Diegoli, as well as Lee Forsgren, up in DC. I occasionally get to chase down Scott and Glenda O’Connor whenever I find myself around Jacksonville, and I hear Brian Foy has recently relocated there as well. I also see Chris Foss when I pass through Columbia, SC, to marvel at the success he’s made dealing in comic books, toys, collectibles and rare books from the realms of fantasy and science fiction.

There’s not much left to tell right now, other than I’m going to give my best effort to making it to this year’s Homecoming at KP, and can’t tell you how much I hope to see as many of our class as can make it. 35 years! It surely doesn’t seem that long.
You take care, Ray. Thanks for the job you’re doing chasing us all around for stuff to post. It can’t be easy.

Keep an eye on your email for 35 Year Reunion plans for this Fall. Contact me if you’d like to be a sponsor!
—– Ray Christensen

 
Randy Johnson & Ray Christensen at University of Delaware Stadium

 
Mariners Capture ECAC Clayton Chapman Bowl With 35-20 Victory Over Buffalo State

 
Mariners Capture ECAC Clayton Chapman Bowl – – – Randy Johnson congratulates his son

Joe Bishop’s Harley

 
Joe Bishop’s Harley

Webmaster Ray Christensen presents his web design business

We need to lead off with A.J. Murphy mentioning that he’s a granddad:

Was in New Orleans last weekend and got to connect up with Jim Quern and his daughter Kelly. Had a nice visit with them and our son Andrew and his wife Jennifer, along with our first grandchild that arrived in early July. Wow – a new job description that we will have to get used to! Heading back into New Orleans for the Labor Day weekend for my oldest son Sean’s wedding. There will be a few KP’ers there that we will see.

In June, Lee Forsgren announced to job colleagues:
I will be departing HBW Resources. On Monday June 19th, I will be going into the Administration as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water at EPA. Administrator Pruitt made me an offer that I just could not turn down. My responsibilities will include all of the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, the landside implementation of the Oil Pollution Act, the Invasive Species Act and the Clean Water/Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Funds plus other assorted duties as assigned. I will be spending a major part of my time over the next year repealing and replacing the “Waters of the United States” regulations.

Matthew Bucherati shares:
The Bucherati family continues to grow rapidly and we have been very blessed. My oldest daughter, Ellen, gave birth this winter to her second son, Samuel. He is Sara and my seventh grandchild. With our youngest daughter only getting married last year, we still hope for a couple more grandchildren. Between our four children, their spouses and all the grandchildren, we just hit 17 in my immediate family. Hard to believe but a lot of fun at holiday gatherings. Sara and I will be celebrating our 33rd anniversary very soon and have just passed completed our 25th year of living here in North Carolina. I also just had my 31st anniversary at Pepsi Cola and am actively starting to plan my retirement. We will stay in NC forever and plan to move full time to our mountain house in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I wish the very best to you and the rest of our class.

Wow Matt! 17 in your family and I’ve got just me (unless you include my two housemates).

Rick Boudiette writes:
My mantra is, “Never do a good job in West Africa. They’ll just keep sending you back.” After a multi-year assignment in London on loan to SIGTTO, Chevron kindly returned me to West Africa effective April of this year. My fifth project in West Africa finds me as a resident of Soyo, Angola, seconded to Angola LNG as Marine Manager. Soyo is an old Portuguese port located at the mouth of the Congo River. No ice hockey but I have been able to find a place to skate now that my shipment has finally arrived. I’ve a multi-national staff of Angolans, Europeans, Indians, south Africans, and Aussies performing roles of marine pilots, dredging advisors/technicians, marine inspectors, and VTS operators, as well as a fleet of tugs and marine service craft. We coordinate ship movements and cargo (LNG/Propane/Butane/Condensate) loading at the terminal; manage vessel traffic for the entire port; maintain the Navigational Aids, and plan/contract dredging operations for the port. There are seven project LNG Carriers dedicated to the project: three steam and four dual-fuel/diesel-electric. I helped design all seven and was project manager for the construction of the three steam ships. Come visit – we have three types of venomous cobras and really huge lobsters! Otherwise, see you at our 35th next year.

Dan Rohde adds:
Carrie and I are out in SEA visiting our oldest daughter and son in law (Krysta & Matt Zangle USCGA 2011) who were assigned to SEA last year.

We made plans to visit with Peter (KP 86) and Marianne Lindsey (Sailing Team buddies) and after an awesome boat tour of Port Madison Bay (Bainbridge Island) we were met (while docking at Suquamish for dinner) by John Kimmerlein. What a great surprise.!!

Art Burns says:
I retired from sailing effective May 1st. Grace and I celebrated my retirement from going to sea while “going to sea” on a Smooth Jazz Cruise out of Venice, Italy. Not once did they call my cabin due to reduced visibility or heavy traffic! We have Jazz cruises booked for 2018 and 2019 already.
I’m busy with projects around our home, volunteering at the VA hospital, and enjoying nature. I promised myself at least a year for catching up on stuff then I might look for part-time work if I’m bored.

John Diegoli relates:
It has been about 18 months since my retirement from the FAA. My eldest daughter Hannah graduated from the University of Wyoming last May and is currently working towards her master’s in accounting. My son Eddie just enrolled in American River JC in Sacramento and his twin sister just started her college career at Mississippi State. My wife and I are officially empty nesters. I am keeping busy doing part time flight instruction, ski patrol and lifeguarding.

Ray Christensen finishes up:
…And so the graying of ’83 continues. I want to say something profound like “let’s stay young forever”, but I’m past gray and have already been bald for years. Actually, yesterday was my fastest 5 mile run in almost 2 years! Bloodwork showed that I was low in iron and taking a supplement gave me more energy almost right away. Meanwhile, I donate blood every 3 months or so when the blood bank calls to say that a kid at A.I. DuPont Children’s Hospital needs fresh blood for surgery they’re having. Talk about laying on the guilt!
Stay young!
—– Ray Christensen

 
Rick Boudiette – – – – – – – – – – – – – Christopher D’Angelo at his daughter’s wedding

From left; Peter Lindsey (86), Matt, Krysta, Carrie Rohde, John Kimmerlein, Marianne, Dan Rohde

John Kimmerlein, Carrie & Dan Rohde