As most of us are going stir crazy on telework or temporary furlough due to the Corona virus pandemic, many people have taken to exercise in open places. After Easter, I was riding my bicycle on the Mount Vernon Trail in Alexandria. I saw this guy running in a Red Kings Point Shirt, and it was Sean Connaughton! Now its been 37 years since we graduated, and Sean looks great, like he hasn’t aged. As for me, I have even less hair than after sitting in “the Huff’s” barber chair that first time in the summer of ‘79.
Sean is doing very well, spending time between his home in Old Town, Alexandria, and his work in Richmond, as the President and Chief Executive Officer at Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.
I am happily working as an attorney for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), representing the Maritime Safety Office and negotiating international agreements. The work supports safety of navigation for the Navy, merchant marine, and mariners in general. NGA employs numerous Kings Pointers as well as other maritime academy graduates.
When not working, I love to mess about in small boats on the Potomac River. Attached is a picture of my sailing canoe with its new mast fabricated by the Alexandria Seaport Foundation, an outstanding organization that provides at-risk youth with the opportunity for apprenticeships in boat building and repair.
I hope that all our Kings Point brothers and sisters stay healthy and safe during this challenging time.
Maureen McKeever reports:
I have been getting through the quarantine by going into work everyday. I work for Dollar Bank in Pittsburgh in Card Services, answering the phone and helping people who have lost their cards, had fraud occur, and the like. Most of my teammates are working from home or remotely, but I wanted to go to the office, Many of my customers are now jealous that I get to drive to work. Traffic is now starting to build up a little as things start opening up. I have missed going to lunch with friends and going to Stamp Club meetings, but am otherwise doing well. I have been watching all of the Fast and Furious movies (somehow I missed them) so now I have some really interesting ideas on how to drive in the city. I am also working in the yard as the flowers bloom and the leaves come out (and all that pollen, too!).
I got a couple of really nice masks made by my old roommate Lisa Barcus Fields – very stylish! I have attached a picture. I also have 2 photos taken on a TM that the Glee Club took on September 12, 1982 to the Statue of Liberty, one of me and one of you [Ray Christensen] with the World Trade Center in the background.
One last photo – Jerry Spanier, Mark Allen, Bill Rupy and Kevin Brofford at Halloween in 1979 up in 7th Company. I hope that you and all of our classmates are doing well and are being safe.
Final flights. I retired as a Captain from the USCGR in 2009 with 30 years in uniform (20 years active, 6 reserve and 4 at the academy) and now it looks like I’ve made my last flight with United Airlines. This pandemic has been DEVASTATING to the Airline Industry with 90% of the planes on the ground world wide. It is amazing to see airplanes parked nose to tail for 2-3 MILES on closed runways because they have run out of taxiways to park them on. Who would think you’d be furloughed with 23 years seniority!
Fortunately, Sandy and I have saved and planned well. We’ve essentially completed our international travel bucket list, spending two months/year traveling for the last 5 years (New Zealand 4 times). We moved into our retirement home last October (Del Webb’s 55+ Sun City, Palm Desert community with an unbelievable amenities list for active retirees). We were very blessed that our San Diego house sold in the middle of the pandemic which freed up the financial resources for a 6 year early retirement (pilots are mandatory retirement at 65). I used the recent down time to catch up with classmates: John Grimaldi, Brian Krenzien and Ed Fairbairn who were doing well and staying healthy. I’m also mentoring Al Reeves‘ future son-in-law in his Coast Guard career pursuits. Look me up if you’re in the area – it’s looking like I’ll have 100% leisure time now.
Rich Colonna checked in with “No real news, except for the full beard and 100’s of miles I’ve hiked.”
Bumper Kunkle is at bat:
“I’m down in Jupiter, FL visiting Sue and Tom Bodman and going to a few spring training games. We saw the Mets and the Cardinals at both of their stadiums. I think the Mets have the nicer venue (it doesn’t hurt that they have a Jim Beam Bourbon bar!). Have a great spring/summer. [Ray says Let’s Go Mets!]
Meanwhile, in another part of Florida, Dave Ferchau and Larry Migliozzi enjoyed watching that other NY baseball team.
From Ray: This column was submitted early May, so I pray that the world and your family are leaving the worst of the pandemic in our wake. Business for me has actually been healthy and my family has been well. Notify me when you do something exciting or get together with classmates or if you’ve got news or email address of Andrew Dywan, Steven Kohlhoff, Daniel Morson, or Thomas Watt, just to mention a few.
View color photos at KP83.org.
