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Greetings Class of 1979, Those
of us in the mid-Atlantic/DC region have dug out of last
weekend’s big snowstorm and things are returning to normal which
means we are into the Dark Ages once again. To help distract you
from that, there are several topics for your consideration in
this update. Too
many of my messages to the class begin with the sad news of the
passing of one of our own. In this message I want to highlight
one success story of a classmate who is winning his fight
against prostate cancer. This foe is stubborn, so let’s keep up
our thoughts and prayers. Mike
Feidt, 24th Co, sent me a note that said “Since my
diagnosis with stage 4 prostate cancer in Sept '14 we have seen
prayers working.” His
company-mate, Rick Marrs, told me “Mike has been battling cancer
for over a year. He is presently responding well to a second
round of chemo with a new drug that has shown promise. He is in
remarkably good spirits and enjoying the support of his wife,
Teri and wonderful adult kids and grandkids. We watched the
Army-Navy game with him, his son and several other 24th company
classmates. Mike
is on Facebook and still working for NAVSEA. Please keep him and
his family in your thoughts and prayers. It has been an
inspiration to watch Mike and Teri face this challenge with
courage, grace, and strength, taking it one day at a time.” Mike
lives in Northern Virginia. You may contact him at
michael.feidt@navy.mil. Paul
Gehring, 35th Co, is setting up a Rhine River Cruise
for September 2017 through Dan Morio, Class of 1991, and his
wife who own a Cruise Planners Franchise. Dan
sent me the following information to pass along should anyone
else be interested – We
have owned a travel agency since 2006 and have provided travel
related services to many classes over these almost ten years.
One of our most recent events came about when working with a
classmate of yours, Paul Gehring. With the help of Paul and
Sean, we have created an outstanding opportunity to bring
together classmates on a wonderful Rhine Getaway River Cruise
aboard the Viking Longship Kvasir, that sails from Basel,
Switzerland to Amsterdam, The Netherlands from 06-13 September
2017. I have
set up a group block of cabins with pricing that starts at
$3055.50 per person (a rate that is discounted off the Viking
rate by $300 per person that I am offering because of our shared
affiliation with the Naval Academy). This is in addition to the
current Viking River Cruise Early Bird Discount of $150 per
person (dropping the starting per person rate at $2905.50)
through 31 January 2016. You can also save up to an additional
$1395 per person if you take advantage of the Early Bird
Discount Viking Air Promotion. This promotion offers low airfare
(i.e. $200 per person including ground transfers to and from the
ship in Europe) from gateway cities like Boston, New York,
Newark, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or Washington D.C., other
cities are also available at a slightly higher rate. If you
are interested in the cruise, please call me (540-479-8317),
email me (dan@ GoNavyTravel.com) or visit our web page for this
cruise (www.GoNavyTravel.com/group/VRG2017). The
Early Bird Discount ($150 and the Air Promotion) offer is only
good through 31 January 2016. However, in order to make the
booking with this group, I need to have your cabin reserved and
deposit made no later than 1200, 30 January 2016. Once the Early
Bird Discount is expired, whatever Viking Promotion is running
will be available in addition to the discounted fares I am
offering. As a
veteran, Naval Academy alumni owned, small business, I would
greatly appreciate your business as well as the opportunity to
assist you and your classmates in experiencing all the
highlights of the legendary Rhine River on this 8-day cruise. If
you have other travel or vacation ideas for group or individual
travel, please let me know. Go Navy! Beat Army! The
Alumni Association website news feed is now showing this
obituary for Art Howell. Arthur
Thornton Howell III, 58, passed away January 16, 2016 in
Arlington, Texas. Arthur
was born on an Air Force Base in Japan to Olivia and Arthur
Howell Sr. He spent most of his life working for the US Nuclear
Regulatory Commission as a manager. Arthur
is survived by his wife Linda Howell or Arlington, Texas.
Mansfield Funeral Home 1556 W Heritage Pkwy Mansfield, TX 76063
(817) 453-3009
Finally, Congratulations to Bill Toti, 9th Co,
President of Global Defense at Cubic, Corporation, who was
selected to the Washington 100 list for 2016. The Wash100 is the
premier group of private and public sector leaders selected by
Executive Mosaic's organizational and editorial leadership as
the most influential figures in the GovCon sector and recognized
for their push to drive vision, innovation and achievement for
American citizens. BEAT
ARMY! Omnes
Viri 1979, Sean
Letter from Sean dated 10/27/2015
Greetings Class of 1979, Last
Friday, I joined seven other classmates and hundreds of local
citizens in Sandwich, MA for the Dedication Ceremony of the
Captain Gerald F. DeConto, USN, Veterans Memorial Stadium. A
beautiful Autumn day gave way to a brisk early evening as the
ceremony commenced at dusk, one hour prior to the Sandwich High
School Football game. I am
attaching several links that convey the images and emotions of
the day. The DeConto Family was very appreciative of all our
class for their support since their loss on 9-11. Jerry’s mom,
Pat, and older brother, Dave, were among the speakers at the
ceremony and spoke eloquently of their vision to turn the loss
of their son/brother into a positive tribute to Jerry’s service
and sacrifice. Our
classmate, the Honorable Sean J. Stackley, Assistant Secretary
of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition was the
featured speaker of the evening and paid great tribute to Jerry
and the family’s vision for the Stadium. Sean also spoke of the
beauty and dignity of the 9-11 Memorial at the Pentagon. He
brought with him a letter bearing greetings from the Secretary
of the Navy along with a huge American Flag that was flown over
the Pentagon in honor of Jerry and a piece of limestone from the
Pentagon’s wall sculpted and mounted for display. As you will
note in the links, the community was thrilled to have the
Assistant Secretary attend and speak at the ceremony. But
with all due respect to Sean, Pat, Dave, and the others, Jerry’s
roommate, Carl Rehling, gave the audience a real sense of his
best friend and how this Stadium should inspire generations to
come. Carl provided a sense of Fish’s Navy journey begun July 7th
1975 on I-day through a career where his sailors always
came first and got any credit for the successes on his watch.
Always focused on the mission, even on his final day, it was
reported Jerry ordered numerous persons out of the Pentagon Navy
Command Center so his team could do its job without distraction.
When that became the point of impact his focus saved each of
those lives. Carl
told us that Jerry was “Deeply proud of four things” – being a
member of the USNA Class of 1979, being a member of the Naval
Service, being a citizen of Sandwich, Mass., and most proud of
his family. Carl’s final remarks were aimed squarely at those
who would follow in Jerry’s footsteps and compete at this
tremendous Stadium –
“Lastly, for all the kids tonight and in the future who will
carry a little bit of Jerry with them every time they compete
here, I’d like to pass on a few things I expect Captain Jerry
DeConto would want me to leave you with. First, don’t get on
this field unless you expect to win. Be willing to put in the
hard word that it takes to win. Don’t ever let anyone outwork
you. Second, respect every opponent but never fear any of them.
Lastly, and from the real core of what jerry DeConto was all
about, do your job, trust your teammates to do theirs, and
always, always put the team first above yourself. As a
team you will be able to achieve anything, as long as no one is
worried about who gets the credit.” Along
with Carl, Sean Stackley, and myself, the other 79ers in
attendance were David Jackson, Chuck Dixon, Tim Ebbinghouse, Jon
Jaques, and Fred Gerheiser. Pat O’Kane, Class of 1981, rounded
out the USNA participants. Fred,
Chuck, Dave, and I made a memorable and epic Road Trip for the
Ceremony, leaving Fred’s home in Crofton, MD at 0700 Friday
morning, arriving in Sandwich at 1445, attending the Ceremony at
1800, then departing back for Crofton at 1900 and arriving back
at 0245 Saturday, in time to get a few hours of rack time before
the Homecoming Tailgater at 0900 and kickoff against Tulane at
1300. (Navy won 31-14 and Navy QB Keenan Reynolds rushed for two
more TDs leaving him needing two more rushing TDs to tie, and
three to surpass the NCAA record of 77 Rushing TDs.) Here
are some links to the DeConto Stadium Dedication in Sandwich,
MA:
New Subject – Mick Fernbaugh. Mac Silvester,
Mick’s roommate has reached out to his 29th Company
classmates to report that Mick suffers very poor health as a
result of a stroke several years ago and his wife, Sylvia, also
has medical issues leaving their care in the hands of their
adult children. Last
August, in the midst of some heavy rain, their basement wall
collapsed and the damage, for whatever reason, is not covered by
insurance. The repair bill is ~ $50K. Jim Messenger pointed me
toward the below website to make a donation to Mick and his
family. Any
amount would help and be a blessing to the Fernbaugh’s. Please
check it out. If desiring to send a check to the Fernbaugh’s
directly, their address: 4423 Eastwick Blvd Stow, OH 44224. I am
also aware of a classmate fighting cancer – keep all of your
classmates in your prayers if you are so inclined. Last
Call for Class Store this Year. We have arranged for the
merchandise vendor from our last reunion, Anchor Enterprises, to
reopen the Class of 1979 “Class Store.” This will enable all of
us to buy Class gear in an “Off Reunion” year. The ’79 Class
Store is the only source of Class of ‘79 gear. The Class Store
is offering all new merchandise with a new variety of the Class
Logo – Class of 1979 superimposed over a Block N. You
can order directly from the ’79 Class Store web site –
http://www.usnaclasstore.com/79store.html - and your order
will be shipped directly to you. The Class Store will close
after this Saturday. Visit the website for details. Beat
USF! BEAT
ARMY! Omnes
Viri 1979, Sean
TBD
From the Yard to the...Moon?; Shipmate article by Sean T. Cate, '79 Class President
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