WITH THE THEME “What could taste better than a Maine lobster,” 70 alumni, family and friends joined together representing MMA classes from 1943-2 to 2015 along with fellow maritime academy alumni from Massachusetts, California, and the US. Merchant Marine Academy for the MMA Southern California Chapter’s celebration of its 39th annual Lobster Fest on August 14. The day was made more special as everyone joined in to celebrate Carlton Hutchins’ (’43-2) 96th birthday.

The theme was ‘What could taste better than a Maine lobster.

Lobster Fest attendees (L to R): Frank Tepedino ’58, Fred Therrien ’71, Carlton Hutchins ’43-2 (sitting), Curt Nehring ’71, Jeff Pollock ’15, Alex Waller ’15, Chris Rodriguez ’12, Peter Betti ’10, Ralph Staples ’71, Michael Curtin ’04 (with future Mariner, Hunter Curtin), Ben Robertson ’00, and Alden Beck ’01.

MORE THAN A DOZEN MMA alumni work at the Sappi Fine Paper, Westbrook (Maine) Mill.

The mill is part of Sappi, a global wood fiber company that was originally owned by S. D. Warren in the 1850s and was an early pioneer in coated printing papers. Today, the mill is the world’s largest producer of casting and release papers.

MMA alumni have a dynamic presence in the mill’s workforce. Pictured here are: Phil Morse ’15, Terry Nichols ’03, Tracy Tuttle ’02, Ryan Bolduc ’00, Mike Reider ’87, Bill Shannon ’87, Scott Foinsbee ’97, Ben Ward ’97, Paul Perry ’80, Shawn Labonte ’08, John Leblanc ’86, Abby Yeo ’17 and Leah Jackson ’14.