Eight Bells
Elias "Cease" Ayisi, '65-67, died
work, at play or just when helping someone out
September 11, 2002 in Ghana. He was the first
who had a problem. If he could not fix a problem,
person of color and the first non-regimental
then it was not repairable.
undergraduate at Maine Maritime Academy, and
Jim's two passions were hunting and fishing.
the first student to join MMA as a sophomore.
He spent countless hours in the woods of Maine,
After graduation, he lectured for many years at
New Hampshire and Florida. This can also be
the Nautical College in Ghana. In 1981, he began
said about his time spent ocean fishing. He was
his tenure as a lecturer at the Nautical College
teaching his grandsons - Alexander, Nicolas and
of Nigeria, eventual y becoming head of the Engi-
Maximilian - to follow in his footsteps by enjoy-
neering Department. In 1988, he became the
ing life outdoors. Clemens Pauly, Jim's son-in-law,
Vice Principal of the Regional Maritime Acade-
was his partner in these outdoor endeavors in the
my of Ghana, and later he was made Principal of
woods in Florida. He had a very special relation-
the institution. He retired in 2001 to spend more
ship with a group of hunting buddies who made
time on farming, a hobby he truly loved.
their way every year to New Hampshire to spend
time at Camp Magalloway where friendships were
rekindled and tal tales revisited. This past sum-
mer, Jim took his entire family on an enjoyable
trip to Maine to experience his family roots in the
Portland area.
"
He wil be dearly missed by al the people
We are tied to the
worldwide that he came in contact with, but he
wil be missed most by his loving wife Diana,
ocean. And when
daughter Melani, son-in-law Clemens, and three
beautiful grandsons. May fair winds and follow-
we go back to the
ing seas be with him now and forevermore.
sea, whether it is to
sail or to watch - we
Roger "Trigger" Burke '65
died July 27, 2013, at home in Delaware. He
are going back from
worked for American Bureau of Shipping and
Keystone Shipping Company as a surveyor, naval
whence we came.
James B. Black `68
architect, and engineer for over 40 years. He was
died in August 2013 in Florida and wil be
a member of the Society of Naval Architects and
deeply missed by his wife, Diana, with whom he
Marine Engineers. He and his wife loved to visit
"
spent 43 joyous years, and his beloved daughter,
Aruba every year.
Melani. After graduation, he joined the US Navy
Reserve and also served in the US Merchant Ma-
rine during the Vietnam War. He made several
John W. Flint `43-2
trips to Vietnam on vessels delivering goods for
John W. Flint '43-2, retired captain and maritime
the war effort. He came ashore and worked for
explorer, died in June 2013, in Maine. During
Connecticut Light and Power Co. for 15 years
WWII, he served in the US Maritime Service and
but returned to sea in the early 1990s, serving on
the US Navy. In the 1950s, he rejoined the Navy
a VLCC and a mining dredge. Jim again came
as a civilian and served aboard many research
ashore and for 20 years worked for Facilities
vessels, which necessitated learning how to use
Resource Management (FRM), which became a
oceanographic equipment. By 1961, Flint had
part of Aramark in 1998.
been appointed the US Navy representative in
He was the quintessential MMA graduate -
Greenland and eventual y rose to the position
very humble but exuding al the finest points
of Deputy Director, Special Projects, US Navy
of his training. He had such a profound sense
MSCLANT, in charge of 38 Navy ships. He ended
of integrity and dependability that people he
his civilian career as "Head, Scientific Branch,
worked with took his advice because he put in a
Military Sealift Command" in 1981; but then
lot of his own energy to make sure it was correct.
immediately began a new career as a maritime ex-
His engineering skil s were always in demand - at
plorer working alone and with groups such as the
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