News From Fort Schuyler

September 27, 1999 - Volume 3, No. 44

CATCHING UP ON THE MEDIA - A number of Schuyler-related stories have appeared unremarked by NFFS in recent weeks. On August 29 there was an article in The Record [Bergen, NJ] about Astronaut SCOTT J. KELLY, Class of 1987, and his twin brother, "For NJ Natives, A Chance to Become Twins in Space". The article, brought to NFFS attention by Cadet VU, Class of 2000, mentions that Scott and his brother are featured in a book about twins, "Entwined Lives: Twins and What They Tell Us About Human Behavior," by Nancy Segal. Go to: http://www.bergen.com and search the archives for "twins in space." A special pull-out advertising section of the New York Times Magazine on Sunday, September 12, "New York, It's a Great College Town," profiles the Maritime College and CADET DAVID DULBERG, Class of 2002. Finally, recent campus events get the full treatment, pictures and all, in the September 23 issue of the Bronx Times Reporter, with coverage of the MORRO CASTLE Conference on September 11, the Skyline Bluegrass Concert on the 12th, and the conferring of the first Order of the U.S.S. ST MARY'S award on Mobil Shipping president, GERHARD KURZ on September 18th.

RHYMSTER RISER - "Enjoyed the comments on ‘worming' and ‘parcelling,'" wrote DICK EVANS, Class of 1965. "Remember them both fondly from GEORGE RISER's seamanship class when I was a MUG. Worming precedes parcelling and the old saw that he taught goes, ‘worm and parcel with the lay, turn and serve the other way.'"

THOUGHTS ON CHANGE - There has been a great deal of discussion relating to the future of the college in recent weeks. The volume is too great for NFFS to summarize, but alumni can join the discussion in DomeNet at http://www.fsmaa.org/maillist.cfm In a recent e-mail, LEN SUTTER, Class of 1953, observes that: " It would appear that we are undergoing great changes. When I was young, I had the answer to just about everything. Now that I am old, I don't know what to think. The training I received at Fort Schuyler has been my passport to a very rewarding life in the Maritime Industry. Hopefully, the Fort will be able to continue to make a significant contribution in some elements of the Maritime Industry."

MORE SCHUYLER MOVIE TRIVIA - According to SAL MERCOGLIANO, Class of 1989, "The TV movie, "Anastasia," was also filmed at the Dome in the late 1980's The bridge and the sideport of the ship was used as the backdrop for the lead actress in the movie. Unfortunately I do not remember her name." Another made-for-TV film was created at Schuyler in the 80's. In a note from ED RUDNICKI, Class of 1982, "I also recall filming of ‘The Gentleman Bandit,' IIRC starring Ralph Waite, a TV movie during my sentence at Maritime (1978 -82). The side door to the Fort sported a sign labeling it as an asylum of sorts, which makes sense given the grey stone and ivy. And the gym became a Pennsylvania State Police facility for a few days. I do believe I still have a photo of the latter, or perhaps it appeared in a yearbook." A final movie note comes from JENNARA WENK, Ship's Librarian in 1998: "If you are looking for one of the Top 10 Worst movies about a ‘disaster-on-a-ship', try VIRUS. We rented it recently, and all I could think was, ‘Boy, you sure can tell none of THOSE people went to SUNY Maritime !'"

THE SPOOKS OF FORT SCHUYLER - A recent subscriber to NFFS, TOM KENNEDY, Class of 1975, attached a jpeg of DON DREVES, Class of 1969, and him standing in front of a CIA logo. Although Tom is of ample girth ("I am on the left, the guy who would definitely not make it through his MUG year if he had to do it again,") he is not a chef at the Culinary Institute of America. Instead they both work at the other CIA in the Science and Technology unit. Tom writes, "Don Dreves and I work together at CIA. He is on loan to us from NOAA, and he has shared many Fort Schuyler stories and memories I had long forgotten....Needless to say, there are not many Maritime grads here at CIA, in fact, I think I am the only one, other than Don."

AH, MEMORY - "TERRI THOMPSON's musings on life at the Fort struck a nostalgic chord," writes AL AYMER, Class of 1967. "I, too, look back upon my days ‘under the bridge' with much fondness and appreciation for the demands which were placed upon us. The Sally Port Saying remains burned into my memory and although there are moments when I can't recall where I've placed my glasses or why I walked into the next room, I've never found myself unable to recall that collection of words the meaning of which seems to make more sense as the years roll by. Yes, some of the things required of MUGs were an annoyance, perhaps even downright stupid but in the total scheme of things they helped us to become better mariners, officers, and citizens. Despite the MFD's (a reference to a previous article in NFFS) I spent on cruises and within the confines of the Fort, I wouldn't trade the experience with anyone!"

WE MISSED YOU - Homecoming Saturday was a glorious, sunny day, but earlier in the week Hurricane Floyd, accompanied by days of media hoopla and dire predictions, was roaring up the East Coast disrupting air traffic. As FERGUSON BYARS, Class of 1939, relates: "Well, we screwed up ! JOHN CORSO and I got as far as Denver before we learned that Hurricane Floyd had closed all the airports on the East Coast on Thursday. Flights were canceled all over the place. The airline couldn't assure us that we would even be able to fly the next day, so we reluctantly returned to Seattle. If I had only known how fast that storm was moving, I would have guessed that things would clear up rapidly behind it, but all the media ballyhoo about evacuations, torrential rains, etc. had me brainwashed."