Eight Bells
Eugene H. Goss `70
James T. Lay Jr. `69
retired chief engineer, of Spruce Head,
died April 28, 2013 in Maine. His career spanned
Maine, died in Boston on September 19,
33 years as a deck officer in the US Merchant Ma-
2013. He began his career as a paper boy,
rine. He loved dogs, shooting, hobby gun-smith-
earned his stationary steam engineer
ing, growing grapes, and reading.
license, became a chief engineer for Gulf Oil
Co., the director of facilities at the Osteo-
pathic Hospital in Waterville, ME, a chief
Palmer "Pete" Pearson `51
engineer at Gorbel Thermo Wood Burning
died in Maine in 2013. He worked as an in-
Power Plant in Skowhegan, and then chief
structor and watch officer aboard the TS State
engineer at the Maine State Prison, from
of Maine before going on for his BS in chemical
which he retired after more than 17 years of
engineering at the University of Maine. He retired
service. His volunteer service included over from Delta Chemical Company, Searsport, ME
20 years as a member of the Maine Lobster
in 1985. Throughout his life, he was a very active
Festival Board where he served as president
community leader.
in 1999, and several years as a member
and treasurer of the MMA Alumni Board
of Directors. His friends and family often
Robert C. Wallace `51
kidded him about his love of cars, especial y US Navy commander (retired) died in Virgin-
Corvettes, of which he owned several, and
ia on April 13, 2013. He was in the Merchant
were thrilled by his new-found cooking
Marines before joining the Navy where he served
skil s once he retired.
aboard the USS ABBOTT, USS HERMITAGE,
Explorers Club, the National Science Foundation,
and USS FREMONT. Other assignments included
and the National Oceanographic and Aeronautics
Fleet Training Group Guantanamo Bay; Naval
Administration. His lifetime interest in naviga-
Keith Kelsey `88
Ordnance Systems Support Office Atlantic;
tion led him to acquire and construct ancient
Board of Inspections Survey; and Headquarters
instruments in an effort to determine their
died May 25, 2013 in Connecticut. He was
US Naval Station, Panama Canal.
accuracy. His insatiable curiosity about maritime
a master and pilot for Northeast Pilots
history led him to more countries than can be
of Newport, RI, a member of the Boston
listed here but among them was England where
Marine Society, and an active participant in
William Siemann '64
he searched archives for documents relevant to
local community and political affairs. Mike
retired licensed chief engineer, died in Maine on
the infamous Penobscot Expedition naval disaster
Bal '65 ran into Kelsey one day in Branford
August 22, 2013. He sailed for 27 years before
in Castine, ME, and the burning of Falmouth
and suggested he become a pilot. Kelsey
retiring to care for his parents. Though retired,
during the Revolutionary War. He located the
began his apprenticeship immediately and
he continued to sail to keep his license. He also
Scottish captain's log books that had not been
became a successful pilot. Bal had this
owned B&M Market in Belmont, ME.,which he
touched for two centuries but which contained
tribute for his friend and fellow alumnus:
sold in 2000. According to his many friends, he
first-hand accounts of the sea battle at Castine.
"When Keith began his apprenticeship with
"had a kind heart."
During his life, Flint belonged to many scientific,
the pilots association, it quickly became
archeological, geographic, and nautical organiza-
apparent he was going to be one of those
tions, often holding officer positions.
pilots who real y understood ship move-
ments without having [to be] taught. He was Steven Sermos '75
a natural-born shiphandler. When I think
retired Merchant Marine, died in Maine on June
Carroll W. Freeman `49
of Keith, I think `stubborn!' When he was
14, 2013. He was known for enjoying his motor-
died in Maine in June 2013. After graduating
learning the tricks of our trade and didn't
cycle and collecting model trains.
with a BS in marine engineering from MMA,
like how we did something, he wasn't afraid
he pursued a BS in mechanical engineering at
to argue the point. Fortunately, his ideas
Allison Wetmore
another college. He worked as a marine engineer
were very good. When I think of Keith, I
battalion officer and instructor at MMA, died in
for Farrel Lines, a groundwood superinten-
think of his exuberant love of life. He did
Florida in June 2013. Before coming to MMA, he
dent for Great Northern Paper in Millinocket, a
everything with gusto. Most of al , when I
had served in the Pacific during WWII aboard
paper industry consultant, and served in the US
think of Keith, I think of a man who loved
the USS BOSTON, received 12 battle stars, retired
Naval Reserve. At MMA, he played basebal and
his family: wife Alexis and two sons Spencer fromtheUSNavyasachiefboatswainmate,and
footbal . He also served as president of the MMA
and Mitchel . He was an upstanding, hon-
been a patrolman for the Orono Police Depart-
Alumni Association.
est, homebody who loved the sea."
ment. He worked at MMA for 14 years.
mainemaritime.edu
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