After naval service on the West Coast, Walter used the GI bill and ended up with a doctorate in Agronomy at Cornell. Liz noted that: "As he was finishing up his program, he attended a lecture by Carl Sagan and discovered his fascination with astronomy, but it was too late to change his major." He returned to California and taught soil science at California Polytechnic, Pomona. "When the college decided to offer an astronomy course, Walter quickly volunteered to teach it. Before long, he'd switched from the agronomy department to the physical sciences department, here he taught 'rocks and stars' to liberal arts majors until he retired."

Walter not only authored books on geology, astronomy, and space science during his academic years ('Our evolving universe,' 'The earth and its environment'), but he and his daughter recently co-authored two novels under the pseudonym, W.L. Hesse, 'Timegate' and 'The Outrider' (published in 2002) - all listed at Amazon.com and other bookdealers.

Liz writes: "Before he died, Walter said that he'd lived a full life, he'd done everything he wanted to do, traveled to a lot of places, and he had no regrets." For more information about this accomplished Maritime College graduate go to: http://www.monroemonitor.com/weeklypages/4-16-03/crumbs.html for a column which quotes extensively from Liz's informative and touching eulogy. For a Seattle Sun article explaining how Walter and Liz became co-authors go to: http://www.jetcitymaven.com/0206jun/outtime.html.

MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE - The New England Alumni Chapter met on 11 April. TONY EDGE, Class of 1961, writes that they and their guests "...enjoyed a fine meal and an interesting slide lecture at Mystic Seaport's Seamen's Inne ....The lecturer for the evening was Dr. Glenn S. Gordinier of the Frank C. Munson Institute of American Maritime Studies."

"In telling his tale, Gordinier interwove visual images and historical data for colonial days up through Liberty Ship production of World War II... A lively discussion followed the presentation as alums shared their knowledge and memories of those wartime designs. Gordinier also invited the audience to consider joining the maritime history classes at the Munson Institute, Mystic Seaport's summer maritime studies program" by contacting glenn.gordinier@mysticseaport.org [Editor's note - The Munson courses are great, good faculty and lots of required readings from Mystic Seaport's well-stocked GW Blunt White Library.]

Next on the New England chapter's agenda ? A cruise aboard the Liberty Ship JOHN BROWN on Saturday, 24 May, departing and returning to New London, CT.

AMAZING REAPPEARANCE - The student newspaper, The Porthole, has returned after a long hiatus. The new issue, identified as Volume 1, No. 1 (so much for historical perspective) was distributed on campus this week. It is certainly good to have the student voice back in print. [Perhaps the editors should check with the library archivist before the next issue in order to figure out what volume it really is!]

GRADUATION SPEAKER - Recently, PHIL KANTZ, Class of 1965, sent a press release announcing that his classmate, MIKE TONER, President of Electric Boat and newly appointed Executive Vice President, Marine Systems of General Dynamics, would be this year's graduation speaker - at Maine Maritime Academy. The announcement also noted that "He is the former chairman of the executive control board of the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP), which under his leadership, was revitalized to become a significant influence in the improvement of the shipbuilding industry." Phil commented: "Now wouldn't you think that NY Maritime would be the first in the queue to get someone of this kind of industry standing to address the graduating class? Go figure." [We will just have to wait and see.]

PICTURE THIS -The Mike Johnson Marine Natural History Photography collection features over 150 nature photographs taken in Southern California and northern Baja California, Mexico. Many of the photographs are underwater ones of whales, sunfish, crabs, rays, and other marine life. There are also a few underwater video clips. [Note: Students may use the images for class reports if "they properly credit the source."] http://www.earthwindow.com/ (Source: Librarians' Index to the Internet http:/lii.org)

MORE ON THE BIG U CREW - "In the item on the UNITED STATES, I didn't see a reference to DICK PATTERSON," [Class of 1923] writes TOM CERNY, former Director of Admissions. "Perhaps he was not a permanent captain for the Big U, but was one of its Masters as well as being Commodore of US Lines, as was, I think I recall, LEROY ALEXANDERSON [Class of 1930.]" [According to an Ebb Tide posting on the Alumni Association website, after ADM Richard Oakes Patterson (who died 14 September, 1998) left the Navy in 1946: "He then sailed in the merchant marine until 1972, serving as master aboard a number of United States Lines ships, including the SS UNITED States, and as ship trial master for General Dynamics."]