News From Fort Schuyler
March 15, 2002 - Volume 6, No. 10
SAILOR'S ODYSSEY - A rave review for alumni author ALVIN P. CHESTER, Class
of 1935, has come from JOHN ZERBO, Class of 1960. "In the last issue of our
Alumni Bulletin an excerpt was taken from 'A Sailor's Odyssey' .... I just
finished reading the book and it was terrific. If you attended Maritime you
can't help but enjoy this book. It is exactly what you know would have taken
place in your life had you done what Alvin Chester did. His comments
regarding being treated differently because he had previously been in the
merchant marine, and therefore went into the US Navy as a reserve officer,
instead of being regular Navy, are interesting. His accomplishments during
his seafaring life are a tribute to the training and education of the
Maritime College (then called New York State Merchant Marine Academy." [The
book is available from the Maritime Industry Museum Gift Shop
(www.MaritimeIndustryMuseum.org) and many online book dealers.]
SCOUTING SCHUYLER - The Eagle Scout Fraternity at Fort Schuyler is
sponsoring its 4th Annual SUNY Maritime College Spring Camporee from April
5 - 7. According to the Eagle Scouts' DomeNet posting: "Your troop will stay
aboard the Training Ship Empire State" [back from its loan to Mass Maritime]
"- Drive a ship past the Statue of Liberty in our Bridge Simulator - Learn
skills in Maritime Pioneering, Boating and Water Safety, Maritime
Firefighting, First Aid - Each person participating gets a free patch -
Special presentations by FDNY, NYPD, NY State Police. For more information
call or E-mail BRIAN KOPKA (718) 409-4050 connelly17@yahoo.com BRIAN
ABBOTT (718) 409-2973." [Thanks to ROD McFADDEN, Class of 1975, for this
heads up. He also notes: "Probably a little late for this year, but a good
choice for next year !"]
SUNY CHANTICLEER - In his Annual Report to the SUNY Board of Trustees,
Chancellor Robert L. King pointed with pride to the fact that: "This past
year we recruited some remarkable people to the State University - Two Navy
three star Admirals: JOHN RYAN, currently Superintendent of the Naval
Academy at Annapolis, and JOHN CRAINE, just retired Chief of Naval Education
and Training. Admiral Ryan will become President of our Maritime College in
June of 2002. Admiral Craine is at Maritime now serving as interim
president. Later, he will expand his responsibilities to include further
development of our Distance Learning efforts and is helping us establish the
recently announced Neil Levin Institute of International Relations and
Commerce."
NEIL LEVIN INSTITUTE A VIRTUAL REALITY - The SUNY System website in Albany
now has a prospectus about the Institute mentioned in the Chancellor's
report. Go to www.suny.edu/Files/SharedPDF/levin.pdf This ambitious
project, which includes two photos of the Fort Schuyler campus and training
ship, seems to be an unfunded initiative requiring endowments and gifts to
realize its potential. Although the present tense is frequently used to
describe the various components of the Institute - the Institute does not
exist: "The State University is providing funding for the initial planning
and startup costs and making available facilities in New York City. The
Institute will be moving to a permanent home in New York City in the near
future."
MELASKY MEMORIAL - Stan's family is appreciative of the many condolences it
has received from the college community. In lieu of flowers donations may be
made to "The Stan Melasky Memorial Fund." The memorial fund will be used to
assist Stan's family in paying for the college tuition of his son, Josh.
Donations payable to "The Stan Melasky Memorial Fund" can be sent to the
attention of Anne Marie Antonescu, Maritime College Foundation, SUNY
Maritime College, 6 Pennyfield Avenue - Fort Schuyler, Bronx, NY 10465.
[Note: This Memorial Fund is unrelated to the Maritime College at Fort
Schuyler Foundation.]
SKYLINE CAM - The new memorial light tribute to 9-11 victims in downtown
Manhattan can be seen on various NYC skycams between dusk and midnight. For
example, check live and archived images at www.nj.com/nycskyline/
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