Better late than never for our third all hands reunion! This
was not our first reunion but it was a long time in coming since the 30th
back in 1990 or the last one in 2000, our 40th, that was organized
by Sorie Knox and Ron Rasmus and celebrated at a Manhattan pub by about 20 deck
and engine shipmates. Most of us belong to local Alumni Chapters and certain
classmates have kept contact with each other. This produced a virtual network
that kept us informed about where our mates were and what they were doing. So,
it seemed that even though we haven’t met formally as a class very often, we
were always somehow connected.
Preparation for the events was an experience and we have to
give special thanks to Eileen Femenia for her valuable assistance. We all
called or received calls to promote the events and this produced a lot of
instant remembrances and camaraderie that set the tone for the reunions. The
efforts paid off for the 45th – thirty-eight classmates plus wives
and friends attended the various events.
On Friday evening there was a “Meet and Greet” cocktail
reception at The Redeye Grill. Great fun to see how well everybody pulled
through the last 45 big ones. The next day we went to the Fort. Capt. Eric
Johansson, Executive Director, gave us an excellent tour of the Maritime
Industry Museum - one of the best in the world- followed by a demonstration of
the ship simulator. After a stop at the Ship’s Store we took off for lunch at Rino’s Italian
Ristorante. Wally Sansone MC’ed the affair and conducted a memorial
prayer for our 17 departed Shipmates. Ron Rasmus gave us an update on Alumni
affairs and talked about what our class should do for our 50 th Reunion. Some fun things
occurred like Wally giving out prizes (stuffed animals) for the “The Most
Productive” (the most children and grandchildren), “The Greatest Endurance”
(married to the same gal the longest), and “The Best Maintained” (easily
recognizable upon a chance meeting). And the winners were “Fitz” Fitzpatrick,
Norm Carathanasis and Herm Molzahn respectively.
That evening we had a dinner-dance at Rosie O’Grady’s,
Manhattan Club that was absolutely delightful. The evening was topped
off by a rendition of “These Are My
Favorite Things”, (from Sound of Music,) by a few members of our old
glee club. Julie Andrews sang this
version at an AARP convention and it appears below. We all enjoyed the
events immensely but the acid test was that all the wives and significant
others did too! This bodes well for our next bash.
Our Class has a lot to do between now and our 50th Reunion.
Ron, the mover and shaker behind this event and for that matter, the whole
Alumni Association, Wally and Larry put it very well in all their
presentations. Our experiences at the Fort have shaped our lives and we have
all benefited. The 50th anniversary of each graduating class has
traditionally been the time that a class gift is made to the Scholarship Fund
to help students in need and to carry on the traditions at our school. Our
initial goal is a $100,000 Class Gift. If each of us makes an annual
contribution, the goal is attainable. In the intervening years between now and
the year 2010, the Class of 1960 will meet at the old “Vou” on Alumni
Homecoming Day, The next one being September 2006, to organize what we will do
for the Big Event and the class gift in 2010. A reminder will be sent to All
Hands. Herm Molzahn will update the roster so if anyone has any changes contact
him (hmolzahn@aol.com, 703 435 3587) or any other
member of the ad hoc Reunion Committee: Ron Rasmus, Larry Olufsen, Wally
Sansone, Richard Price, Carl Zuanelli, or Dominick (Fitz) Fitzpatrick. Are
there any other volunteers to serve on the Committee? How about some engineers?
This is our first cut at a Class of ’60 Web Site. In the
future, thanks to the upgrades to the FSMAA web site announced recently by Ron
Rasmus who chairs this effort, we will be able to include an updated class
roster, a section for biographies – what have you been doing since 1960? Other
features will make it interactive so that it will be easy for us to stay in
touch. Stay tuned by visiting the site often (www.FSMAA.org)
and participate in its development. On behalf of the Reunion Committee –
Cheers! Herm.
Sung to the tune of “These are my
Favorite Things”
Maalox
and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Cadillac's and cataracts and hearing aids and
glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things.
When the pipes leak,
When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.
Hot tea and crumpets, and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heat pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Back pains, confused brains, and no fear of sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.
When the joints ache,
When the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had,
And then I don't feel so bad.
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