Class Notes - Part 4

Kings Pointer – Spring 2024

Paul and Rose Zubaly with Grace and Art Burns

Art Burns gets us underway:
Ray, here’s a photo of Rose and Paul Zubaly with Grace and me in Tagaytay City, Philippines taken March 1st. Paul lives in Metro Manila and we are visiting Grace’s brother and sister-in-law in Lipa City. It was great catching up! Not only were we Second Company Plebes together, I was Captain Paul’s Chief Mate for a few years in the late 1990’s.

Mickey C texted to say that Tom Aufiero dropped in town to Jupiter (FL) for lunch in January. Sue and Tom Bodman joined Tom, Mary Kay and myself.

Jim Goulden announces:
My youngest Jillian married AJ Conklin in Orlando on March 2 in a beautiful outdoor ceremony followed by cocktails and reception in a gorgeous setting near Orlando, Florida.

In attendance were my KP brothers and their wives who have given me unconditional support over the years: Donna and John Carbone, Mary Kay and Mickey C, Anne and Jimmy Quern, Elaine and John Rhatigan and Jeannie and Mike Keane. We celebrated all evening long and continued on into the night after the formalities were concluded. I’ve known these guys for 45 years and they are my closest friends. We’ve grown together through raising our kids and now count 15 grandchildren among us. Our long friendship will endure forever.

Jim Goulden’s daughter’s wedding included Jim Quern, John Rhatigan, Mike Keane, Mickey C & John Carbone.

Quentin Franklin texted to say that he attended Chris Thayer’s retirement from MSC where he was “chief of ops, I believe.” Also featured there was their chief mate from initial sea year, Flip Walters ’75. “We told tall tales of wooden men and iron ships!”

Al Reeves is our top class correspondent in this issue:
Hi Ray – as always thank you for all you do for our class. You can rest assured it is greatly appreciated. As always I want to continue to mention Brian Foy who does so much for our school and in my humble opinion gets a small fraction of the credit and honor he deserves. Well I am a grandfather and have attached a “4 generation picture” which I am quite proud of. It makes you understand what is truly important in life. I am in touch with a group of classmates and have come to truly understand how blessed we were to have all come together from all walks of life. I will go quickly and if I leave anyone out I promise it’s not on purpose. Jim Goulden is hanging tough and is a man I look up to. Tom Heberle retired and moved to Vegas of all places. Tom is one of my dearest friends. Scott McCauley is still in Australia and very successful – another dear friend and unique character. Rich Surratt is coordinating a small group get together in Vegas this May (who else would you want to coordinate anything – he is the Father of FAC after all). Kent Morton is hanging tough and building his dream home – I have come to know and respect this man and appreciate his friendship. Stu Mill is retired and focused on physical fitness at all levels – I always call Stu when I have an extra roll of blubber I’m trying to lose! Craig Ellixon actually settled in PA within 15 miles of my entire family near Harrisburg and looking forward to seeing him soon. Scott Brueggeman lives in Austin and never calls me but I will always forgive him because he is Bruegs after all!! I had a great a great conversation with Mark Suter who is doing great with his family in Long Island. Mark and I go back to day one plebe year, as is our school case he went A and I went B, and so it goes. Can somebody please tell me another person who could go through plebe indoctrination fresh off ACL surgery and never once complain? Tough dude! At the reunion Bumper Kunkle gave me Nat Agrippina’s number which I had been searching for I don’t know how long. He was my Plebe year roommate. Well now we are in regular communication and he is doing wonderful as a Chiropractor in Atlanta. Talk about a wonderful man! I know I’m missing guys so I apologize in advance. Thanks again Ray for all you do. One last thing – Dan Russell is never to be forgotten ever. The greatest of men.

Chris Hart reports:
I’m finally getting around to sending you this photo for some Class of 1983 news. This is Jon Kjaerulff, Tom Aufiero, and Chris Hart at the WW II Museum in New Orleans on December 1, 2023. We met up while attending the International Workboat Show in NOLA. And we enjoyed some fine hospitality from the New Orleans KP Alumni Chapter when they hosted a happy hour with many classmates and old friends attending.

Thanks to all for periodically responding to my requests for news and photos! If you have any contact info or knowledge of or even rumors about these classmates, please tell me since they’ve been off my radar for some time: John Burns, John Cataldi, Lisa (Taylor) Cripps, Jeff Fout, John Green, Eric Jorgensen, Ed Napoli, Chris Shirley, James Wei (among others).

Kings Pointer – Winter 2023-24

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Our Reunion Coordinator Mickey C leads off:
“What a great time seeing folks during Reunion weekend. For some it’s been quite a while since you’ve made it back. Let’s make it every five years going forward! I really appreciate the help folks provided and was very proud of the Class Gift effort led by Randy Johnson!
2028 is right around the corner.”

Mickey C is ready to take the field again!

After our fabulous Homecoming weekend, A.J. Murphy headed north:
My trip post-reunion brought us to Maine. Was able to connect up with classmates Eileen Heneghan as well as Steve Nicholson and wife Priscilla. All are doing great and Gretchen and I appreciated spending time with them!

A.J. Murphy, Eileen Heneghan, Gretchen Murphy

John Kimmerlein noted online that “We did not make it back to KP, but Jim Storey, Steven Kimmel, Mark Lund and I got together at a local KP event and marked or 40 years post-graduation!”

Maureen McKeever can’t get enough of KP football:
On November 18th I attended the 2023 ECAC James Lynah Bowl Game in Washington PA where the Mariners played Washington & Jefferson College. The Mariners played well but were up against a good offense and lost 46 – 21. There were a lot of football parents there from all over the country, and it was fun to talk to them and learn about their sons’ experiences at Kings Point. It was disappointing that there did not appear to be anyone from the school administration in at-tendance. This means that I saw 3 KP games this year, the most since 1st Class year! (I am count-ing the Coast Guard Game on TV.) I worked at the polls (as I have done since 2013) and am an-ticipating a bigger crowd next year for both elections. I am still so happy about attending Home-coming this past September and seeing everyone. I hope everyone has a great Christmas and New Year! The photos are of me at the football game, along with our far-ranging classmate Bob Bennett.

Joe Bishop posted on Facebook:
Had a great visit to Jacksonville and St. Augustine last week and got to catch up with Scott O’Connor and Brian Foy on Thursday and Friday, respectively. I do love catching up and am so sorry I missed Homecoming this year. I’ll be trying harder for 2028, that’s for sure.

Steve Keating shares this fascinating update:
I am sorry to have missed the 40th Reunion for the Class of 1983. Looks like it was a great event. Many thanks to the organizers!

For the past twenty-plus years, I have been working as an attorney for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), formerly known as the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, and prior to that the Defense Mapping Agency. My portfolio includes representing NGA in interna-tional negotiations and advancing NGA’s Safety of Navigation mission. It is a privilege to be a public servant working with other Kings Pointers in both NGA and other agencies supporting national security.

NGA has a strong connection to the maritime industry, as it produces nautical charts and other products used by merchant mariners across the world. Since 2019, I have served as the United States Observer to the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Advisory Board on the Law of the Sea (ABLOS), and in October and November of 2023 I was invited to speak about Crowdsourced Bathymetry (CSB) and its nexus with the Law of the Sea. CSB offers a cost-effective method to help international efforts map the seabed by the year 2030 by leveraging echo sounding data collected by vessels complying with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). CSB can advance worthy objectives to build a digital model of the Ocean, which are complementary goals of the United Nations, the IHO, and the USA. CSB also can contribute to situational awareness and change detection in highly trafficked channels involving pilotage and towing. In November, I was honored to speak about CSB at the 2023 Map The Gaps Symposium held at the beautiful Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. Other speakers included IHO Director Luigi Sinapi, Challenger Deep Ocean explorer Victor Vescovo, and Fabien Cousteau (grandson of explorer Jacque-Yves Cousteau and world-known Aquanaut in his own right).

Fabien Cousteau, Steve Keating, and Victor Vescovo at 2023 Map the Gaps Symposium.

Steve Keating with International Lawyer Virginie Tassin Campanella and IHO Director Luigi Sinapi at a reception aboard the MV White Rose of Drachs.

Ray Christensen with his brother Ken ‘87/88

Ray Christensen wishes you Happy Holidays and a fabulous start to 2024!
I don’t plan to ever fully retire from my web design gig since I enjoy helping small businesses attract customers. Besides work, I keep busy with regular visits to family in the Catskills, volunteering with my Knights of Columbus brothers, encouraging people to stay fit as president of my running club and begging you guys to get me in touch with our missing classmates (please?). While I’m patting myself on the back, I’ve also donated 10 gallons of blood since 9/11. I’ve been in the same house for 30 years. If you’re passing thru Delaware on I-95, I’m just a few miles from the exit. Here’s a photo of me helping my brother Ken Christensen KP’87/88 boil maple syrup.

On October 6, we lost our classmate Doug Barlow. Please read his obituary in this issue and see photos on our website. I welcome you to email me something to add there. As his daughter noted, “Dougie” lived an adventurous life!

Douglas Barlow

Obituary by Doug’s daughter Leela Ray
Douglas Richard Barlow, commonly known as Dougie B., passed away on Oct. 6th, 2023 in a paragliding accident at Mt. Baker, WA. Born on August 7th, 1961 to Roberta and Richard Barlow in Buffalo, NY, Dougie grew up sailing and ski-racing. He is survived by his wife Sanghamitra Ray, mother Roberta Barlow, sister Gretchen Horth, and three brilliant daughters, Lily Hoffman, Leela Barlow, and Nira Barlow, along with a community that spans the globe.

Dougie B. received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at the USMMA. He regaled his daughters with his endeavors at the Academy and as a Merchant Marine, often in the form of bedtime stories. After a decade at sea and achieving the rank of First Engineer with the US Coast Guard, he settled in Seattle, WA and pivoted towards entrepreneurship in the wellness industry. He joined the Northwest Multihull Association, where he served as Commodore for a time, and spent his summers sailing with his family.

Doug Barlow, KP ’83
8/7/61 – 10/6/23

A Captain at the helm of every great adventure and a humble ambassador of Nature, his friends say that he lived more in one year than they could in ten, but that he forever extended the invitation to join in on his future ventures.

Posted by a friend of Doug:
On October 6th, 2023, Dougie Barlow, known to many and loved by all, embarked on his final adventure. Doug passed away, leaving behind a legacy that will forever inspire and captivate our hearts.

Throughout his remarkable life, Dougie was a living testament to the spirit of exploration, daring, and unwavering passion for discovery. His boundless enthusiasm and fearlessness took him from skating around the kitchen in his new roller blades, blazing through the waters of the PNW, to soaring in the sky on his paramoter.

But what truly set Dougie apart was not just his intrepid expeditions but also his selfless contributions to his communities. Beyond his adventures, Dougie was deeply committed to making a difference right here at home. He was a humble leader and organizer in his neighborhood association, quietly maintaining the roads and tending to the needs of his community. His willingness to step in and help in any way needed was a testament to his character.

Beyond his daring exploits, Dougie was a beacon of kindness and humility. He had an innate ability to connect with people from all walks of life, treating everyone he met with genuine warmth and respect. His enthusiasm for life was infectious, and his humility despite his extraordinary accomplishments served as a lesson in how to remain grounded yet live life to the fullest.
Doug Barlow
One of the many facets of Dougie’s community involvement was his dedicated leadership in Juice Plus+ world, where he worked tirelessly to promote health and well-being. He didn’t seek recognition for his efforts; rather, he carried out his work with the same humility and passion that defined his adventurous spirit.

However, there was one area where Doug would occasionally allow himself to boast, and that was when he talked about his three daughters and his amazing wife. He would light up with pride and affection as he shared stories of their accomplishments, their adventures, and the love and support they provided him throughout his own journeys. To Dougie, his family was not only his anchor but also his greatest adventure and source of joy.

As we mourn the loss of Dougie Barlow, we must remember that his spirit lives on in the stories he shared, the many lives he touched, and the indelible mark he left on the world. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of adventurers, dreamers, and explorers who dare to follow in his footsteps.

In this time of sorrow, let us celebrate Doug’s incredible life, his unquenchable thirst for adventure, and the profound impact he had on each of us. Let his memory be a source of strength and inspiration, reminding us to live life with the same passion, courage, and boundless curiosity that defined his existence.

Our hearts go out to Mitra, Lily, Leela, and Nira and family as we join together to honor the memory of a true legend. Dougie Barlow, the world’s greatest adventurer, edge of the world gardener, international man of leisure, may you continue your exploration in the great beyond, forever etching your name in the annals of history.

Fair seas and following winds, dear friend. You will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

Posted by Peter Huston, a friend of Doug:
Doug Barlow, very active trimaran racer in the PNW good friend and a neighbor of mine died last week in a paragliding accident. Doug was always very upbeat and he loved sailing and talking about boats. He will be very much missed.

For Buffalo sailing and skiing peeps, sad news out of the Pacific Northwest via a post in the Sailing Anarchy forum by Bob Perry, long time friend and crew mate Dougie Barlow was killed in a paragliding accident last week. Picture below is the April ‘78 Red Bank Lightning regatta where we crewed for the famous Ed Roseberry, who called him Slick. Always one to sort of march to his own drum, great memory of Slick during the ‘78 NA’s in Rehoboth. The sea breeze didn’t fill in one day, very light, huge shifts. The three fleets got all mixed up, we were in the championship division and were about dead last in the entire fleet. The sea breeze started to fill, we were bringing it up, but sailed way wide inside to the jibe mark. Suddenly 120 boats were all compressed at the jibe mark, we are coming in with pace few others had, but it was going to be bumper boats with probably half the fleet. Eddie was a bit nervous wondering what we were going to do about this. Slick, thinking quickly, grabbed the whistle from the flotation device and just started blowing it like an NFL ref. It had the effect of confusing everyone, we had probably about 6 inches between the mark on one side and six inches on the other side with literally the whole fleet on the outside. We rounded, looked back and we were suddenly in about third. Race ended up being abandoned. Next time I’m in that situation I’m going to pull a Slick and blow the whistle again.

Rest easy Slick, I’m sure you are spreading happiness with your infectious smile as you always did in the great boat in the sky.

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