Class Notes

1943-2
Capt. William Brennan ’43-2, former MMA Commandant, and Chet Manuel ’67 enjoyed MMA Commencement on May 5, 2018. Picture courtesy of Dr. Marc Gousse ’82.
1956
On Monday, May 7, 12 members of the Class of 1956 met for their annual mini-muster breakfast at Dave’s Diner in Gardiner, Maine. Along with the cordial conversation and memory sharing, the group was given an MMA update by Jeff Wright, director of alumni relations.
1956
Russell Godin sent in a tribute to fellow classmate Robert M. Purton (whose passing was noted in Mariner, Issue 1 – 2017, Eight Bells). Some of the highlights noted of Purton’s career: “Bob was originally hired at Pacific Pumps of Dresser Industries as a test engineer. He soon became Chief Test Engineer. In this capacity, he acted as a project engineer, installing a 20,000-horsepower steam turbine with boilers. This facilitated testing of high pressure valves, feed pumps for utilities, charge and decking pumps for oil refineries and steam-driven turbopumps for the maritime industry and U.S. Navy combat ships. Later, Bob was promoted to Decoking Manager, and in this capacity, he became a world famous engineer and inventor in the refining decoking process. He authored or co-authored nine patents, many of which are in use today. He became a renowned figure in the refining decoking process, giving advice to engineers around the world.”

Entrepreneur

Cut from a Different Cloth

There’s a pattern to the success of Jay Harris ’73.

A love of sailing and being on the water brought Jay Harris to MMA, where he captained the sailing team to one of its highest levels of competitive achievement.

Today, he sails in the tumultuous winds of commerce as President of Komar Distribution Services, a supply chain management company that is an offshoot of Komar Designs, an apparel production giant with more than 100 branded licenses and 174 factories in 12 countries that produces more than 110 million garments annually.

From his time at MMA, Harris carries many lessons that have helped him navigate life and business. “It was the stories of leadership,” he recalls. “There were some really savvy old salts who had been through World War II, who were torpedoed and survived, and those stories were very motivating.

1964
The Class of 1964 held its spring mini-muster at DiMillo’s Restaurant in Portland on May 18. Thirty-three alumni and friends were in attendance. The class has already scheduled their fall mini-muster for Friday, September, 28, at the same location. Shown from left to right: Jack Harrigan, Peter Lombard, and Perry and Pearl Mattson.

Shown from left to right: Ernie Goodwin ’61 joined Chuck Sherman
1964
MMA received a note from Wayne Nason with the following: “I retired after 40.25 years with American Maritime Officers.”
1980
Capt. Ervin Curtis is running for American Maritime Officers Union National President in 2018. “I have been sailing since graduation,” he notes, “and have been in command of 15 ships during my 29 years as Captain. I am in my 20th year as an AMO member.

“If elected I will be the first graduate of Maine Maritime to become an AMO Union official, and the first active sailing captain to be elected President of the AMO,” he states. “I understand the sacrifice you make, your financial value to the maritime industry and our country as Merchant Marines. I will work for better wages, benefits, and retirement. I am asking for your vote, and the votes of the AMO officer aboard your ships in the upcoming election in 2018. My email is elcurtis@roadrunner.com if you would like to contact me. Thank you all for your support.”

First Person

Power in Perseverance

John Webster ’73 brings old hydro power stations back online, but he has his eye on Costa Rican gold.

When I attended MMA, I was young and didn’t understand what all the discipline was about. It wasn’t a pleasant experience.

Once I graduated and started working on ships, things made more sense.

After graduation, I worked for Gulf Oil Corp. for 10 years, sailing as an engineer on oil tankers. I worked on old T-2 tankers and modern VLCC crude carriers. I enjoyed my time with Gulf Oil, but being gone six months out of the year is hard if you want a stable married life with a family.

I was inspired to try something new when I read an article in Down East magazine about a fellow, Larry Gleeson, from Belfast, Maine, who was rebuilding an old hydroelectric station. Because of my engineering background, I understood a lot about what was involved.

1982
Capt. John Gazzola, of the Delaware Valley alumni group, and his wife, Josie, hosted an MMA alumni dinner at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Philadelphia in April. Sixteen alumni and 11 guests from other academies were in attendance.
1988
Noah Kingston is the divisional vice president for the Great American Insurance Group. Kingston resides in Houston.
1990
Peter Rouleau, National Business Development Director for AESSEAL, Inc., visited the MMA campus in June to discuss potential cooperative and employment opportunities for students and alumni. Originally from the East Millinocket, Maine, area, Rouleau now lives in Indiana.

1994
Matthew Zardeskas recently left Michelin Aircraft for Military Sealift Command headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, and is now working with T-AKE and T-AOE class vessels.
1996
Janos Angeli and his wife, Stephanie, live in Westfield, New Jersey, where he is Senior Director Engineering, Construction and Carbon Management North America for Celgene Corporation in Summit, New Jersey. Angeli says he is “traveling throughout North America, overseeing pharmaceutical / bio-tech construction projects. Grateful to MMA for the lessons and leadership skills I developed. Attempting to tie in with classmates and rekindle old times and stories.”
1997
Wayne Rolland, MMA class agent (with Scott Frost) and former Regimental Commander, is moving east after a stay in the Seattle area. “I just got a heck of an opportunity to be the head civilian in charge of the SUBSAFE program in Washington, D.C.”

2000
On July 10, LCDR Matthew J. Meskun read his orders. After two years as the U.S. Coast Guard Commanding Officer of Marine Safety Unit Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Meskun and his family will be reporting to Portsmouth, Virginia, for his next tour. Following the Change of Command Ceremony, Meskun participated in a frocking ceremony where he was promoted to Commander. Along with his family, representatives from the Port of Baton Rouge, Congressional and Senatorial representatives, Meskun had several friends from MMA attend the ceremony. Shown left to right: Clarence M. Young ’99, Joseph E. Valliere ’99, Andrew C. Hochhaus ’99, Matthew J. Meskun ’00, Thomas M. Brown ’00, David W. Stilson ’00, Robert J. Carter ’00, and John R. Kinlein ’00.
2001
Robert MacDonald and his wife, Meaghan, live in Bangor, Maine, with their children, Sullivan and Seamus.
2002
Deborah Smith is a marine technician aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute research vessel Falkor, following 14 years as lead Hydrographer for Leidos/SAIC. Smith resides in West Kingston, Rhode Island.
2005
Andrew C. Strosahl joined the Lawrence Law Firm, PA and its South Berwick, Maine, office.

Strosahl, a Dover, New Hampshire, resident, recently returned to the Seacoast region after spending the past few years working in Washington, D.C. in the U.S. Senate and advocating for the U.S.-flag maritime industry.

“I enjoyed my time in Washington, D.C. working on Capitol Hill and advocating for the U.S.-flag merchant marine, which I am passionate about,” Strosahl says. “However, the Seacoast is home, and I am eager to work in the area and become more actively involved in the community.”
2005
After graduation, Jessica (Rowe) Ward worked for United Ocean Shipping as Mate on a bulk carrier going around the world. She took a job offer as a surveyor with ABS in 2009 and moved to South Korea.

Married in September 2009, she and her husband, Matthew, moved to Mobile, Alabama.

They welcomed a first son, Jackson, in March 2012, and their second son, Jordan, was born in April 2016. They reside in New Hudson, Michigan.
2006
Clint Haskell works for the Department of the Navy as an EEO Specialist. He was recently promoted and, along with his wife, Jaclyn, and their five children, will be moving to Yokosuka, Japan, this summer. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration (Human Resource Management) from Walden University.
2006
Zebadiah Strout is living in Wayzata, Minnesota, with his wife, Molly, and children, Oliver and Gavin. Strout is sailing as Chief Engineer for Matson Navigation Company.
2006
Jasper Walsh has recently been promoted to Master at Chevron Shipping Company, having worked for Chevron since 2008.

He and his wife, Nicole, (McKenna) ’07, spend their summers sailing the Maine coast and winters at Barker Lodge. They live in Portland, Maine.

Several alumni attended a recent reception for Jasper. From left to right: Jim Lannon ’97, Sarah Kaplan ’07, Jasper Walsh, Nicole (McKenna) Walsh, Ross Gagne ’08, Aaron Sheer ’08, Abe McKenney ’07.
2007
Edward Markuske and his wife, Sally, are living in St. Petersburg, Florida. Markuske is Chief Mate for Masters, Mates and Pilots.
2008
Shawn Evans is a subsea supervisor for Transocean and is living in Newburgh, Maine.
2009
Joshua Dore is a Logistics Analyst for General Dynamics – Bath Iron Works and is living in Portland, Maine.
2010
Thomas (Bryan) Stoots is a Master with Military Sealift Command and is living in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
2010
Katrina (Dunham) Storti is a senior associate for Sargeant and Lundy, an independent engineering and consulting company, dedicated to working with clients in the electric power business. She and her husband, Anthony, live in Hixson, Tennessee.
2011
Elizabeth Cote ’11 and John Sewall ’87 at the recent alumni gathering in Portland.
2012
Heather (Moore) Santana is a Supply Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, stationed in Quantico, Virginia. She plans to depart the Marines in November, but she, her husband, Edwin ’12, son Edwin III, and daughter, Valerie, will remain in Virginia.
2013-14
Amanda (Bello) Ziadeh ’14 and her husband, William ‘13 just purchased a business in Wakefield, New Hampshire. “We are the third owners of Nute’s Trading Post,” she says, “which has been in business between 70 and 80 years (we haven’t gotten a firm answer yet). Not what I expected to be doing with a Marine Biology degree, but being my own boss rocks. Will continues to ship with Crowley on the ATB Legend.”
2014
“I hope all is well!” reports Ryan Armstrong. “Thought you’d like this picture of myself, Matt Methot ’13 (right) and Capt. Ryan Emmons ’06 (left). MMA skiers! Haha.” Photo by Rich Armstrong ’86.
2015
From John Amendola Jr.’s wedding in Rome, Georgia on April 21 (from left to right): Kyle Fredricks ’15, Steve Bunker ’15, Jacob Weymouth ’15, John Amendola ’15, Benjamin Cummings ’14, Nathaniel Zmek ’15, John Amendola Sr. ’86.
2017
Ricardo Alberto Cuellar reported to Provost Dr. David Gardner that he was hired by Norwegian Cruise Line as a Jr. 2nd Officer on board the Norwegian Spirit for cruises in the Mediterranean Sea. He embarked on June 7 from Civitavecchia, Italy. He will let us know how things went in October when he returns to his home country of Panama. “Thank you,” he notes, “for all the help throughout the four years at the Academy. “
2017
William Dumas is a material handler for Sig Sauer, Inc. and is living in Kennebunk, Maine.
2017
Cody Gray is an IT Contracts Analyst with Jackson Lab in Bar Harbor, Maine, and lives on Verona Island.
2017
Luke Olsen reported to class agent Cristin Wright that he has been working for Crowley on the tanker Texas since last fall. He says, “I was struggling to find work all last summer. I did pretty well in school, but no one was reading résumés. I figured I needed to make some connections, so I attended all the events at the alumni weekend (Homecoming) last fall, and the following Monday I had a job.”
2018
Cristin Wright worked on the Maine State Ferry Service vessel Captain Richard Lee this spring before leaving for graduate school at Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences at William & Mary University. Aboard, she met Howie Duym ’70 (left) and Rick Card ’74 (right). Duym has been with MSFS since 1988. Card, who intends to retire this year, has been with the MSFS since 2010.