The CT group has been gathering regularly. Their January event was held at Gasper’s Automotive Restoration, owned by John Gasper ’02. Pictured on this restored fire engine, owned by Jack Spratt ’93, is Rich Slack ’93, Gasper, Cliff Jackson ’08, John Wustman ’09, Doug Vines ’81, Todd Thiel ’92, and Joe Stanley ’21. The gathering was a tour of the armory and the fire truck restoration shop, then dinner at The Main Pub restaurant. The next meeting is pizza and beer in April.

Alumni from the Bangor Seadog Chapter helped support 12 students on a coral reef dive trip while they were in St. Croix USVI during the winter cruise. In addition to all the coral and fish, they saw sea turtles and blacktip sharks. The money raised cut the cost per student in half. Students signed thank you cards for the chapter donors.

The Casco Bay Chapter hosted area alumni at the Ice Level Lounge of a Maine Mariners game in Portland on January 28. A great turnout watched a highly competitive game, complete with great seats and veiwing area, a buffet “cookout”, and lively conversation. The Alumni Association hosted another hockey event to a packed “Lounge” on April 15 against the Newfoundland Growlers. Great time and camaraderie!

The Delaware Valley chapter had a spirited evening of Top Golf at Mt. Laurel, NJ March 4. A great venue for a gathering, all alumni enjoyed a delicious buffet, their favorite beverage and pleasurable activity. Special thanks to Tom Lord ’87 for thinking outside the box and organizing such a fun event.

Captains Carrie ’00 and Jay Stewart ’00 hosted a BBQ for students and the ship’s crew during the training ship’s winter cruise in November 2021. The Stewarts are instrumental in contacting companies to keep ship services at a manageable cost. TSSOM is returning to Charleston, SC this spring and the Southeast Atlantic group will host area alumni and students during a Charleston RiverDogs (AA) baseball game and picnic.

Special thanks to Roger Arsenault ’71 and Ed Rosenberg ’72 for their tireless efforts to host the annual alumni ski event at Black Mountain in Rumford, ME. Ed reports, “The energy and the camaraderie was the best we have had to date. The skiing was great. We had alumni from as far away as Holden and Rockport. We had alumni from 1960 to 2014. There were 2 classmates that currently sail as Master and Chief Engineer on the same ship who were there skiing.” See you next year!

The Tidewater Chapter also got the hockey bug, hosting an event at the Party Pad of the Scope Arena, where MMA alumni and families were treated to an exciting overtime game by the Norfolk Admirals and Atlanta Gladiators. Again, our impressive alumni attendance had great seats, a buffet cookout, and cash bar. Pictured enjoying the game is the Dion family (Andrew ’07, wife Jaime, daughter Nadine) and Steve Case ’05/’09, Janice and Mark Vanty ’86, and Tom Bourgelas ’81, and Jim Michalski ’89.

The Texas Chapter hosted a welcome reception for President-Select Jerry Paul ’89 at the Marriott Waterway, The Woodlands, TX, on April 3. Paul was in town to welcome alumni and corporate representatives who participated in the annual Texas Mariner Golf Classic on April 4 at the PGA-tournament-rated Woodlands Country Club. Attending were Larry Burrill ’77, Paul, Tom Lord ’87, Richard Balzano ’89, and Steve Schutt ’88.

The Alumni Association wishes to thank Mike Grigware ’87 (Seacoast), Sherri Hickman ’85 (Texas), Minh Harriman ’90 (Puget Sound), David Lane ’68 (Jax), and Norm Laskey ’62 (Southeast) for their dedicated years of service as chapter contacts. A hearty welcome and thank you to DK Horne ’80 (Seacoast), Ben Van Der Like ’16, (Southeast), Josh Shaw ’12 (Texas), and Mark Keene ’11 (Puget Sound) for picking up the baton and continuing to serve area alumni. Steve Roy ’78 is working toward revitalizing the Kennebec Valley Chapter as well. Please welcome them and offer your assistance when and where you can.

After two years and two months, the Alumni Association hosted the 52nd Alumni Student Banquet at the Cross Center, Bangor. Turnout was lighter than in past years, but attendees were appreciative and enjoyed their evening. Andrew Strosahl ’05, VP of the Alumni Association, welcomed the soon-to-be members and Jeff Wright, Director of Alumni Relations, gave a quick overview of the support and offerings that the Association has to offer.

In cooperation with the Alumni Relations Office, the following speakers were on campus to share their expertise with students during Commandant’s Time this spring:

• February 7 to 2/C – Role of Leadership to soon-to-be 1/C; Richard Balzano ’89, CEO, Executive Director Dredging Contractors of America; former Deputy Administrator, MARAD; CAPT, US Navy (retired); and Mark Winter ’88, State Office Rep., Sen. Collins; Attorney; CAPT, US Navy (retired)
• March 7 to 3/C – Cadet Shipping Experience, Preparation, Expectations, Advice and Sea Stories; Capt. Prentice “Skip” Strong, III ’84, Penobscot Bay & River Pilots Assn.; author
• March 14 to 1/C – Real Estate; First Purchase and Investment Tips, Rylee Knox ’19, worked as a Nuclear Test Engineer for the Department of Defense at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, started investing in real estate in 2017. Transitioned career in 2019 to become a full-time real estate investor and real estate agent.
• March 21 to 3/C – Alumni Relations at MMA, Jeff Wright, Director, Alumni Relations
• April 11 to 1/C – Insurance Coverages and Considerations, Joshua Doolan ’17, Vice President, Property & Casualty at USI Insurance Services