Class Notes

1944
Lynwood Harivel class of ’44 shown on the right (94 years old) is a full-time Jupiter, Florida resident.

He is enjoying his annual visit from Leonard T. Daley (who is 93) when they reminisce about the good old days. Harivel and his wife Pat are down for the winter in Jensen Beach, Florida from Maine.
1956
Peter Smallidge ’56 took a trip to the Raye’s Mustard Factory in Eastport, Maine and stopped in to pick up Dale Lincoln ’57 who went along for the tour.

“On the way back through,” Smallidge writes, “we stopped at the 45th Parallel for a photo op before enjoying a nice lunch.

“We had a great visit with Dale and his wife.”
1964
Perry Mattson and his wife, Pearl, have participated in the escort for The Wreaths Across America convoy from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery in 2016 and 2017. He sends the photo above, which is from the 2017 convoy when 275,000 wreaths were placed on the graves of America’s Heroes.

“Our convoy Grand Marshalls were Colonel Roger Donlon and his wife Norma,” Mattson writes. “Roger was the first Congressional Medal of Honor recipient from the Vietnam War. Norma is a Gold Star Wife, as she lost her first husband in the Vietnam War.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to be part of this patriotic and sacred mission.”

First Person

Noting the Lives of Others

I graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in 1966 with a degree in marine engineering. When I graduated, every engineer had at least three job offers because it was during the Vietnam era and they had more ships than personnel to man them.

I went to sea for about four years as an engineer for American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines. Then I worked as an operator at Maine Yankee nuclear plant, and from there to General Electric in various engineering jobs for almost 30 years until I retired.

Currently I live in Oaks, Pennsylvania with my wife of 50 years, Jean. Our kids are grown. I was involved in the volunteer fire company for a number of years, and Reading Railroad museum.
I always read the Eight Bells section of Mariner to see who has passed on. Wondering who may have been missed, I started searching for alumni who have crossed over the bar. I would look at the Portland Press Herald and then started using their search function for all states with the keyword “maritime.”

When I see an alum show up, I send the obit to the Alumni Office and to the Mariner editor for inclusion in the Eight Bells section of the magazine and the online Alumni page on the web.

(If I see my name, I’ll stop searching.)

Maine Maritime is not a big school so you get to be real close with your classmates. You maintain those relationships after school, especially as you get older.

It’s good to get together and tell sea stories and talk about family and what you’ve been doing.

1965
Paul Wurschy writes, “My wife Marieta and I relocated from Houston, Texas a little over one year ago to Ericeira, Portugal for our ‘Golden Years.’ I first experienced Portugal during a State of Maine visit to Lisbon as a midshipman back in 1963 and fell in love with the country, its people and down to earth living style ever since. Ericeira is a small city of about 50,000 people located directly on the Atlantic Ocean about 45 minutes north of the Lisbon airport. (If I look hard from my balcony, Penobscot Bay is just over the horizon.) In the last several years it’s been THE destination for the surfing world in Europe–something I’ll take up in my next life–but I do enjoy paddleboarding as well as sailing! We would love to be visited by fellow MMA’ers whenever business or pleasure brings you to Lisbon, so drop us an e-mail at pkwurschy@earthlink.net or telephone (011) 351-261-090395 to let us know you’re coming.
1969
The senior management team at The Cianbro Companies announced that the organization’s Board of Directors appointed Peter “Andi” Vigue as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2018. Longtime Chairman and CEO Peter Vigue will continue to serve as Chairman of The Cianbro Companies while also devoting time to the Cianbro Development Corporation.
1971
Karsten Reinemo writes “I really enjoyed reading about all my classmates in the December Class Agent Holiday message.

“After four great years with some real great guys, it was on to Mobil for a few years and then the Nantucket Steamship Authority, piloting my way to this great little island 30 miles at sea. Then a big change: 180 degrees! Twelve years at ACK airport (air traffic controller) and I married my lovely wife Julie, and we have two boys (35 and 37) and three grandchildren. My son, Tim, and I own Nantucket Moorings, a nifty little business with a barge, several workboats and four employees. Matt (the older boy) an attorney, is much happier running his charter fishing boat and owns a fishing tackle shop. Julie spends her time taking care of some real estate investments, working at the tackle shop and spending time with her grandchildren. I am awestruck with the success and awesome careers that all my classmates have achieved. Everyone has done exceptionally well. All you guys, give me a ring (508-228-7724). Come to the island next summer. We can catch a few fish and play a round of golf.”

Entrepreneur

A Bit of a Revolutionary

No matter where in the world you travel, it’s often said, you’ll likely run into an MMA graduate. High on the list of people you may meet is Ed Scott ’89.

Scott is the Chief Operating Officer of Excelerate Energy, which has pioneered unique LNG importation projects. He was instrumental in shaping the company into its present model that utilizes self-contained ships (or FSRUs), which serve as terminals to receive and store LNG and then regasify and inject it into distribution networks as a high pressure natural gas. This eliminates the need for traditional LNG import facilities in many places in the world, saving time and significantly reducing capital costs. Projects range from Brazil and Argentina to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Pakistan, Israel, and the latest project in Bangladesh.

1971
Robert Hussey retired from shipping in 2002 after nearly 32 years. Then he went to work as a sub-contractor for ExxonMobil at their port facilities in Everett, MA and Providence, RI for 15 years as a Pollution/Safety Adviser on the ships or as a Person in Charge on the dock. He now volunteers at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, doing logbook transcription and various other projects.
1971
Tom Noble, Sr. is founder and chairman of Noble Supply and Logistics, a 300-person worldwide supply chain provider for the Federal Government, both International and Domestic. Additionally, they have 29 Industrial Supply stores on military bases throughout this country, Japan, Guam and Hawaii, providing MRO supplies to our servicemen and women to help maintain all their facilities.
1971
Mitch Walker retired June 1, 2017 but is still on retainer and consulting for Tote Services. He and his wife Kathy live in Saint Augustine, Florida during winter months (at World Golf Village) and in Maine at Sabbathday Lake (New Gloucester) during the summer.

Autonomous Ships

There’s much buzz about autonomous ships.

Rolls-Royce, for example, has revealed concept designs for such a ship, shown above, that could be managed remotely from a control center. In response to queries by alumni, Capt. Robert H. Pouch ’62, NYNM/USNR (Ret.) and former President and Chairman of Barber Steamship Lines/Barber Ship Management, Inc., prepared the following brief:

As with any major new concept, there are obstacles to the introduction of this type of system. Here are the challenges:

We have all read about the Norwegian company [Massterly] that wants to place such a system on board a newly built coastal bulk carrier to be operational in 2020. However, no such equipment is apparently built, installed or approved by a classification agency or governmental authority.

1971
Kevin Gildart has been retired for seven years, spent 38 years at Bath Iron Works, and a couple of places before that.

“I love retirement” he writes, “lots of time with the four grandkids, and lots of golf. I work at the golf course one day a week. I took up cooking when I retired; so when they are busy, I cook at Maria’s Restaurant in Portland and tend bar on busy nights. Janet and I do some traveling and own property in the U.S. Virgin Islands. We got a direct hit from both Irma and Maria in September.”
1971
Lawrence Cahill worked in Afghanistan, project managing the extension of a special forces base. He did security upgrades at government facilities worldwide.

“Retired now, but hating it.”
1972
Chuck Heath is currently COO of DP World, responsible for development and operation of all logistics services, economic zones and inland container depots worldwide. DP World is the world’s third largest port operator with 78 terminals in 44 countries.

Heath and his wife have lived in Dubai since 1981, and have 3 children and 7 grandchildren.

Sea Stories

Fire Onboard!

I was Captain of the Hopper Dredge Stuyvesant in February, 2005, working from Fernandina Beach, Florida near a submarine base where we were clearing a channel. It was 20:30 when my phone rang and Chief Mate John Schieferstein ’99 says, “We have a problem in the engine room and need to take the starboard engine down.”

“Any traffic?” I asked.

“Nope, just Right whales spotted, so we’re only doing about five knots.”

“Okay, I’ll be right up.”

1974
Kevin Meagher is living in Swampscott, Massachusetts, and is a ferry captain for Boston Harbor Cruises.
1975
Steve Gumpel is consulting in the maritime new construction industry with his own company, Palmer Neck LLC.

His current project has him working alongside Brian Owens ’77 in Orange, Texas, building the pioneering first of a kind, LNG Bunker Barge, which will be used to supply fuel to TOTE’s new dual-fuel NASSCO-built container ships out of Jacksonville.

Gumpel met up with David Kendall ’75 on the Texas coast with his wife, Cyndy.

“We clinked a few glasses together and planned our retirements, which are still a little out of reach.”
1979
Charles Schuster and his wife Betty are living in Middle Island, New York.

Charles is a Registered Nurse at St. Charles Hospital.
1979
Capt. Mike Donovan, Wimauwma, Florida is “still sailing after all these years” for Keystone Shipping Company, sharing sea time with Danny Shorty ‘75, Cal Chapman ’75, Phil Lessard ’05, and others.
1981
Capt. Peter Petrelis, USN (Ret) ’81 recently retired after 30 years in the federal government, first with the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, then with the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) for 25 years. He worked with MARAD’s Ready Reserve Force (RRF) program then was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff Logistics Directorate (J4), the Pentagon, as MARAD’s liaison. Prior to government service he actively sailed in the merchant marine. Petrelis and his wife, Marie, have relocated to Florida’s Treasure Coast and are focusing on community service.
1984
Dan Lorenz and his wife, Linda, downsized a year ago “to take some time to see where we want to end up.” They are living in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia for now. Lorenz is a manpower and financial consultant for Concept Analysis and Integration in Arlington, Virgina.
1985
In January, Doug Herling ’85 was named President/CEO of Central Maine Power Company. Herling joined CMP after graduating from MMA and has held various executive positions within the company over the years.
1987 & 1988
Hugh Tillman ‘87 and Dave Heronomus ‘88 met up in Bagram, Afghanistan this winter. Both are flying King Airs, conducting intelligence and reconnaissance missions against Taliban and ISIS insurgent targets.
1990 & 1991
The November 2017 Seapower magazine (seapowermagazine.org) quoted Capt. Eric King ’90 as Port Commander, U.S. Coast Guard sector San Juan and Capt. Holly Najarian ’91, Port Commander, U.S. Coast Guard sector St. Petersburg, following the 2017 hurricane season.
1994
Class of ’94 guys at the Patriots game versus the Chargers. From left: Tucker Lehigh, Mike Cook, Tony Costigan, Jim Dimillo and Kris Toth. It was a great time catching up and remembering the good old days.
1999
Wes Pooler was named Engineer of the Year by the New England Healthcare Engineers Society on September 25, 2017 at their annual conference. The award recognizes a member who distinguishes himself/herself in service to the Society and to the healthcare engineering profession. In photo, at left is Alison Brisson, NEHES President presenting the award to Pooler. For the past six years, Pooler served as Director of Facilities Management at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vermont.
2000 & 2001
CDR Matt Cegelske ‘01 and Nathan Hall ‘00 were on campus recently as speakers during the Maritime Leadership Conference held March 16-18.
2004 et al.
Rob Kalloch ’04 sent along photos and notes from Operation Deep Freeze (ODF) 2018, the yearly re-supply mission of McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Three MMA Alumni (including Kailoch) held key positions during this year’s operation: Capt. Tim Arey ’03, M/V Ocean Giant, Chief Engineer Jim Cook ’06, M/T Maersk Peary, and LCDR Rob Kalloch ’04, Executive Officer, Navy Cargo Handling Battalion ONE.

ODF is critical for those who live and work in Antarctica, which places high emphasis on successful and timely navigation, transit, efficient cargo handling, mechanically sound equipment and engineering operations.
2006 & 2008
Vernon ’06 and Jenna (Algee) Giguere ’08 celebrated their five year anniversary recently. Jenna works as Deputy Chief of Legal Services for the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation. She is also involved in pro bono work with incarcerated women. Vernon is working as an IT Project Manager at CVS Health. The couple recently moved to Coventry, Rhode Island, where they live with their rescue dog, Sadie.
2011
Charlene Hipsky is sailing as second mate with OSG. Hipsky lives in East Hampton, Connecticut.
2011
Katherine Rovinski is a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, living in Langley, Washington.
2012
Dr. Kayley Rodriguez is living in Creve Coeur, Missouri where she is a staff veterinarian at the Animal Medical Center of Mid America.
2016
Gabrielle Wells ’16 aboard SeaRiver Marine’s SR American Progress, on which she is Third Mate. Wells captioned the photo: “The American Progress has an ‘unmanned’ bridge. Shown from right in the red shirt is Second Mate Bianca Cowan from Texas A&M. Next is me. Then, Diandra White, also a third mate from Texas A&M class of ’15. Next is Penny Joule who is AB. Lastly, is Kerri Ann Kelly, Chief Mate from Massachusetts Maritime. Although this picture is rare to find on a ship, I have been told this hasn’t been the first time that SeaRiver has had this many women at one time on one of their vessels.”
2017
Brady MacLeod ’17 and Rich Collenburg ‘07 shown during a one revolution inspection and timing the fuel injectors and exhaust valves on a 645 series EMD on the Christine McAllister for McAllister Towing, currently in San Juan, Puerto Rico.