Joe Ertolacci is trying to help me track down lost classmates:
Ray, I have tried numerous times to contact Roger Foster as he was my roommate at the academy with no success. I know he works at BIW, Bath Iron Works, in Maine but that’s it.
Art Burns sent a couple photos. One is with Paul Zubaly taken in December 2024 in the Philippines. The other is with Rex Gundle at my home in Wisconsin February 2025. Paul lives in the PI and I was spending some time at the “Winter Home” my wife built there.
Rex and his wife were traveling between North Carolina and Minneapolis. We live about 15 miles off their route so they dropped in to watch the Super Bowl!
Once again I made it out into the frozen tundra to do Wreaths Across America. Look at the last person in the line-up of older folks laying the wreaths – with the white hat & scarf – you know, shorter than the rest of the people. This is my last year laying the Merchant Marine wreath as I sort of froze to the pavement and almost fell on my nose! Funny, not really … But, all for a good cause.
Now, I’m dashing out the door to the NCAA Div III Women’s BB tourney at Baldwin-Wallace here in Ohio. It’ll be nice to support some of the current Midshipmen. I hope this finds everyone well.
We took a wonderful trip to South America -10 day guided tour with Gate 1 in Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls, Buenos Aires. I was last in Rio in November of 1980 as a cadet on the Mormac Glen. We got to spend several days at each stop in South America and experience the sights. We got see Iguazu Falls from both Brazilian and Argentinian sides, absolutely spectacular.
We then flew to Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego) for an 18 day cruise to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands. We sailed with Atlas Ocean Voyages on their World Voyager “yacht”. It was 126m LOA, we had 159 passengers on this trip. Had a bumpy 2 day ride across the Drake Passage – 20’ swells. With the smaller size of this ship we were able to make zodiac landings and tours in Antarctica and South Georgia. They take bio-security VERY seriously. All our outer clothes had to be inspected before we went ashore. Also, the boats they loaned us had to be scrubbed before we got back on the zodiacs and then we walked through a boot washer as we got back on the ship. Picture of me on the continent representing the class. Got to see literally a million penguins, along with several varieties of seals and whales. The crew and the expedition team were outstanding. They provided daily lectures on penguins, whales, birds, geology, etc.
We actually did a polar plunge in Antarctica – the water was 28 degrees.
Sitting at lunch the first day I hear someone at the next table talking about being a Merchant Mariner. It was Kirk Barrett ‘87 (see pic). We chatted quite a bit during the trip, he is a pilot in Mobile. They let all the passengers on the bridge at various times during the trip. Very nice. Couldn’t get into the engine room, apparently company policy. The Captain was Norwegian and very interesting to talk to. After his routine announcements during the trip his closing was always “buckle up and enjoy the ride.” 😊
We did get a quick glimpse of the worlds largest iceberg (A23A) (30 miles x 40 miles). The visibility then dropped and we couldn’t get any closer. It broke off the continent in 1986. It had been caught in a circular current in the South Atlantic, but recently broke out and is headed towards South Georgia.
My wife Andi grew up near Niagara Falls and loves the falls, so after seeing Iguazu and talking to other folks on our trip, it looks like our next trip will probably be to Victoria Falls. It was an incredible trip. I can highly both Gate 1 and Atlas Ocean Voyages.
In other news, I am still actively umpiring both Little League baseball/softball and High School Softball. I got to work the plate for the Virginia HS Class 4 semi-final last year. I also worked the LL Senior (15-16yr old girls) Softball Championship in August. This year I will be umpiring LL Senior (15-16yr old boys) Baseball Tournament in August.
Steve Keating shares:
Greetings from Alexandria, Virginia. On 11 January 2025, I retired from the Office of General Counsel of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) after nearly 22 years of federal civil service. I was blessed to have my wife, Cynthia, my daughter Kate, and my brother Anthony, my sister-in-law Barbara, brother-in-law Mark, and over 100 friends attend.
At NGA, I was privileged to work with a number of Kings Pointers, many of who led and supported NGA’s Maritime Safety Office producing international charts and safety of navigation publications for the Navy, Merchant Marine, and Mariners generally. Kings Point provided a great education to prepare me to represent the Maritime Safety Office at NGA, and NGA at the International Hydrographic Organization. Attached are some photographs from the retirement ceremony.
Overall, it’s been a great 42 years of sailing in the Merchant Marine, working as a Defense Contractor, serving in the Navy Reserve, and working as an international law counsel for DoD. Kings Pointers have made great shipmates and work colleagues along the way. In a year or so, my wife and I will plan on relocating to Burlington, North Carolina. There, we plan to enjoy family, walking, fly fishing, sailing, hiking, pickle ball, and tennis.
Ray, thank you for keeping us all in touch with each other and with Kings Point over the years.
Acta Non Verba
Erin Gantt is “laying low at NAVSEA trying to avoid the reaper”, but alerted me that Willie Barrere is now the AMO Pres. AMO press release excerpt:
“The National Executive Board of American Maritime Officers has elected Willie Barrere to serve as the union’s national president in accordance with Article VIII, Section 1 (l) of the AMO National Constitution. He will complete the term of former AMO National President Paul Doell, who retired from AMO. Barrere was elected AMO national executive vice president in 2022.”
We can always count on A.J. Murphy to bring us some colorful news:
Happy Mardi Gras from New Orleans!
So much good food and drinking going on here, plus it was great to meet up with classmates as well. Was able to catch up with Yvette (Smith) Pigott just before her Krewe of Iris parade. She loves riding in the parade and it was a beautiful day as well.
Anne, Tommy and Jim Quern also arrived for our parade party. Jim was “in character” and some of the younger kids were impressed! They now kow that you know who is truly watching all year. The last shot is Gretchen and I watching the parade pass.
Yvette Pigott adds:
I retired from teaching high school science three years ago and have been enjoying traveling with my husband Don. This year we will celebrate 38 years of marriage. Here we are enjoying a toga party on a recent cruise. I’ve taken up art and paint daily along with drinking more coffee. If anyone is interested, you can find my art on Instagram yknot_art
I was just in my hometown of New Orleans to ride in the Krewe of Iris for Mardi Gras. I was lucky to meet up with AJ Murphy and his wife Gretchen. That’s not much to say but I’m on the road visiting my daughters.
After a pretty cold Winter here in Delaware and all over, I look forward to Spring more than usual. As always, see this and all past columns at KP83.org.
Peace!