Class Notes

1943-2
Pete Longley ’71 caught Capt. Bill Brennan recently having his morning coffee at the Falmouth, Maine, McDonald’s. Brennan also accompanied his son, President William J. Brennan, to the October Up Close presentation in Portland.
1943-2
George Stowers reports his father Clifford Stowers is still going strong at age 96, remembers his MMA days fondly, and is living in Altmar, New York.
1944
Dr. Barclay Shepard was the featured speaker recounting his extensive career as a U.S. Navy surgeon at the Veterans Day observance at Southport Memorial Library on November 11.

After graduation from MMA, he sailed with American Export Ships, and then graduated from Bowdoin College in 1950. After teaching, he attended Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston and graduated in 1958. After subsequent training, he worked at the naval hospitals in Beaufort, South Carolina and St. Albans, New York and specialized as a thoracic surgeon. In 1967 he volunteered for Vietnam duty and was assigned to the USS Repose, a hospital ship in the Da Nang and DMZ areas.

Shepard was Chief of Thoracic Surgery at St. Albans Naval Hospital for two years and served another stint at Bethesda. His next assignment was with the Navy Surgeon General’s Office where he was in charge of future designs and construction of medical facilities. In 1978, he retired from the Navy but continued to work with the Central Office of the Veterans Administration, initiating a program for Agent Orange. Finally his work with computerized medical records brought him to retirement in August 1991. He remains active as a community volunteer.

Port Director’s Perspective

A 40-year maritime industry veteran, Capt. John Murray ’79 has piloted a successful career from almost every perspective—from deck to wheelhouse, to global commerce and port management.
Since 2016, Murray has been the Canaveral Port Authority CEO and Port Director in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

“We are the world’s second-busiest cruise port in terms of multi-day passenger movements (second only to Miami). Our proximity to Orlando International Airport, Florida’s busiest airport, and the area’s theme parks contribute to our success as a cruise port. But we are also a diversified cargo port with petroleum, aggregates, and lumber among the major imports coming across our docks. And we also have commercial fishing fleets operating here, a public park, campground, beach, boat ramps, restaurants, and more.

“The Port is an important component of the growing commercial space industry, as Elon Musk’s SpaceX started landing boosters three years ago on drone ships offshore that berth in the port.”

Murray has witnessed tremendous changes and growth in the shipping industry, and ironically, the shrinking of the U.S. merchant marine for which he has been a vigorous advocate.

After graduating from MMA with a degree in nautical science, Murray sailed with Lykes Brothers Steamship Co. for eight-and-a-half years, becoming master before heading the company’s port operations in Charleston. He later led regional operations and then overall crew and ship management. He successfully guided the company through Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1997; its ultimate acquisition by CP Ships; and, over the next eight years, as CP Ships acquired seven more shipping companies before it was acquired by Hapag-Lloyd in 2005.

During his time at Lykes,

1958
One of the highlights of this year’s Kittery Historical and Naval Museum annual Veterans Salute tribute was the dedication of memorial benches honoring the late retired Merchant Marine captain and Kittery native Milton Hall Jr., a longtime museum trustee and volunteer.

“We received many monetary gifts in his memory because so many people loved and appreciated him,” said Kim Sanborn, the museum’s director. “The trustees decided to honor him with two benches to replace the wooden ones that he repaired and varnished every year so they would flank the doors to the museum.”
1958
From Fred Therrien ’71 to Frank Tepedino, Class Agent for 1958: “Hi Frank. Thanks for helping me get connected again with my old boss Captain Art Wardwell. He taught me everything I know about fixing ships on the waterfront. Just had a nice visit with him and we took a stroll down memory lane. What memories. Believe me there’s nothing wrong with Art’s memory. Thanks again. All the best – Fred ’71E” Therrien just retired from the U.S. Navy for a second time; this time from a civilian role as an engineer. Congratulations on your 40-year career, Fred!
1959
Capt. Tom Kelly stopped by campus in November. He was instrumental in coordinating his 60th reunion, though a medical issue kept him from attending. Kelly reports he has been giving presentations to groups visiting the Cole Land Transportation Museum.

MMA Engineers Power Up Jackson Lab

After we featured MMA alumni who work at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) in the last Mariner (Issue 2, 2019), Luke Damon, Utility Plant Assistant Chief Engineer at JAX, wrote to us with more information on the engineering side of the operation. —Ed.s

I joined JAX in 2011 for a Per Diem job after returning home from working on LNG regasification tankers at sea. I was looking for something productive to do in my off time and surprised by how big JAX was and what a decent career it offered for marine and power engineers. I was able to take the skills I gained from my maritime experience and apply them to the lab’s Process/Heating/Power plant that was right in my “backyard.”

I am proud that 12 out of 14 full- and part-time plant engineers at JAX are MMA alumni. Another MMA engineering alumnus is a Building Automation Specialist in the maintenance group.

When I tell people I work at The Jackson Laboratory, many ask if I’m a scientist or work with mice. It is less known that JAX has two steam plants in Hancock County, each with an around-the-clock crew of engineers. We also have a steam plant in California and a high-tech facility in Connecticut.

The JAX utility plants employ as many or more MMA alumni than the other JAX departments combined, in the most traditional role for MMA marine and power engineers. Employment here is an easy transition role for sailors coming home from sea who are used to operating and maintaining all systems onboard. Our plant is run more like a sea-going vessel as opposed to most shore side facilities with segregated duties and responsibilities.

1970
Dick Roscoe sent this photo of the dipper dredge Cascadas which helped dig the Panama Canal. “I worked on this amazing piece of machinery … when it was used in the Gaillard [Culebra] Cut,” he writes. “I learned recips from G P “HOSS” Jacobs and it came in handy. Cascadas was equipped with a main lifting engine that was a horizontal recip, two vertical recip Spud engines, two vertical one-cylinder engines that drove the generators. The pumps were also steam driven.”
1971
From Labor Day Blueberry Celebration at Dave Dodge’s home in Buxton, Maine, where we had a mini muster. “If you need any help in identifying the individuals,” he writes, “I will start with the two lovely ladies in the front, Ellen Grant and Claire Dick. In the back, Peter Longley, Bruce ’Woody’ Woodman, Dana Grant, Dave Dodge, and Steve Dick. Woody just retired from Casco Bay Ferry System as Chief Engineer.”
1971
From left to right: Larry Cahill, Vinnie Bonsaint, and Don Cannan recently met for lunch in Kittery and shared sea stories. Cahill lives in Newburyport, Bonsaint in Mansfield, Massachusetts and Cannan lives in Monmouth, Maine on Cobbossee Lake and continues to work “very part time.”

The Case of a Lifetime

THE PEER REVIEW PUBLICATION Best Lawyers has announced Gene Silva’s (Class of ’64) inclusion on its list for 2020, making it the 30th consecutive year he has received this recognition.
In a career highlighted with notable challenges and successes, among which was managing litigation for one of the most complex and costly admiralty cases in history, central to it all is Silva’s approach to work, which he first learned at MMA.

Upon graduation with a degree in nautical science, Silva shipped out as a mate and served in the U.S. Navy. After graduating from Notre Dame Law School, he worked for a California firm and then established an admiralty practice for another firm in Texas where he worked from 1977 to 2003.

“The biggest case I handled came in 1988 with the Piper Alpha (North Sea) oil platform catastrophe,” says Silva, “in which 167 people died, and losses exceeded $6 billion, a horrible matter and a defining chapter in my life.”

Collectively there were some 900 claimants represented by 80 lawyers. Silva represented the owners of the platform. The related legal work spanned courts in three countries and five years for Silva, as well as resulting in an argument before the United Kingdom’s House of Lords.

“I worked many 18-hour days, sometimes all night,” says Silva. “I had a great team backing me up, but it was enormously taxing and such a devastating loss of life and property.”

After Piper Alpha, Silva was involved in other high-profile legal cases, including preparing several briefs and appearing before the U.S. Supreme Court, before retiring in 2003.

1975
Left to right: Ted Knowles and Brian McNamara sailed up the Maine coast in September, moored in Castine and stopped by the campus to inquire about Homecoming 2020 events for their 45th reunion. Homecoming is October 2-4, 2020. Class Agent Raymond Mann has been in touch with classmates to encourage their attendance.
1979
Glen Hutchins reports that he is self-employed. He and his wife, Molly, live in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.
1979
Chip Simpson is supervisor of Noise, Shock and Vibration testing at BIW. He and his wife, Laurie, live in Woolwich, Maine. He writes, “Can’t believe it’s been 40 years since I graduated! My younger son Charlie will be a junior this year at in the MET program. He’s loving it and I’m glad to see the hands-on training continues at MMA. The self-discipline and character development can’t be matched at any other school. Keep up the great work.”

1980
As part of the observance of Veteran’s Day at MMA, Rick Leighton, a caretaker of the Ground Zero Flag that was raised after the September 11, 2001 attack, brought the flag and a marble cross fashioned from debris from the World Trade Center site to campus. It was presented and ceremonially flown at the Regiment’s formation and morning colors. The flag has traveled across the United States and world for various observances and is destined for permanent display at the 9/11 Museum in Manhattan.
1983
Nathaniel “Frosty” Leonard and his wife, Eve, have moved to Ponte Vedra, Florida. Leonard is President/CEO of Little River Marine Consultants, specializing in high-speed ship escort concepts and tractor tug technology.
1984
Brian Moore writes: “After 13 years in academia, the last five of which I spent as a professor and chair of the University of Georgia Dept. of Construction Management & Civil Engineering, my wife, Yin, and I moved to California in 2012 to be closer to family.

“I began working for the California Dept. of Water Resources (DWR) and acquired a California Professional Engineer’s license (Civil). Following the failure of the spillway at the Oroville Dam, which resulted in the evacuation of almost 200,000 people, I was asked by DWR to take over responsibility for managing a new office that handles construction contract administration and construction inspection for the Oroville recovery effort. Extensive projects are being discussed for this area and the aging infrastructure that comprises the California State Water Project (SWP). The SWP will require an extraordinary effort over the next 5 to 10 years.”
1984
Adm. Mark Whitney recently retired after 35 years of dedicated service in the U.S. Navy. Sandy Cameron, engineer of TS State of Maine and Whitney’s MMA roommate, was on hand for the retirement ceremony.
1985
Adam St. John, who helped lead the Old Town High School basketball team to the 1980 Eastern Maine title and who still ranks second on the MMA career scoring list, was selected for the Old Town High School Sports Hall of Fame.

At MMA he was the leading scorer in NCAA Division III during 1984-1985, averaging 29 points per game. St. John was named Northeast Conference MVP in 1985 and was a three-time, all-conference, first-team pick. He achieved All-America status in 1995, and was inducted into the MMA William J. Mottola Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. He is Senior Vice President of Manufacturing for Verso Corporation in Wisconsin.
1986
Adam Guziewicz is a senior associate with R3 Strategic Support Group. He and his wife, Lori, live in Ten Mile, Tennessee.
1987
In September, Maritime Administrator Mark Buzby swore in Capt. Douglas H. Harrington ’87 as the Deputy Associate Administrator for Federal Sealift. Harrington replaces Deputy AA William (Bill) Cahill ’67. Harrington is responsible for the operations and resource management of the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF), including 46 ships of the Ready Reserve Force, NDRF training ships, Divisional Field Offices, National Defense Reserve Fleet sites, and oversight of the Office of Ship Disposal Programs.

Left to right: Bill and Missy Cahill, Mark H. Buzby; Doug and Constance Harrington, and Deputy Maritime Administrator Richard Balzano ’89.
1988
From Eric Smith: “I have recently accepted a position with Brogan Financial as their COO. The founder and CEO, Jim Brogan, and I met several years ago via the Tampa Bay Frogman Swim along with sharing the JH Ranch experience together with our daughters.

“While I am moving away from the maritime industry, I am extremely excited to be working with Jim and his company along with the talented team he has built over the past 18 years. I look forward to remaining connected with him as we have formed a friendship that transcends our business.”

Prior to the new job, Smith caught up with Chief Engineer Sean McGowan ’06, and Chief Mate Steve Tukey ’94 on the Resolve Pioneer, a wreck removal and spill response vessel home-ported in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
1989
Juan Molino submitted the following on behalf of the Panama Canal Alumni Chapter. “In July, Tim Reid ’88 (center), master of the OSG Endurance transited the Panama Canal and arrangements were made to have Maine Maritime grads pilot his vessel. Cesar Achurra ’90 (left) worked on cruise ships until he became a pilot apprentice in 1996. Eusebio Stewart ’90 (right) joined the Panama Canal Pilot force in 2011. Prior to that he was the tugboat manager for the Atlantic District in the Canal.
1991
Tim Twomey is director of ship operations for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Woods Hole, Massachusetts and lives in East Falmouth.
1992
Rusty Franz, CEO of NextGen Healthcare, was interviewed on Nasdaq: Behind the Bell by Lyanne Alfero, show host and producer, in October. Watch interview on YouTube.
1994
Capt. William Perkins is a staff officer at NATO Joint Air Power Competence Center, coordinating the integration of Carrier Operations and Maritime Patrol Aircraft into NATO’s use of Joint Air Power. His career as a naval flight officer led to extensive leadership and operational experience in amphibious/expeditionary warfare (as commanding officer of Tactical Air Control Squadron ELEVEN) and in Anti-Submarine Warfare (as P-3 Orion Weapons and Tactics instructor).
1994
Matthew Zardeskas writes that he “left the T-AKE/AOE Program Office at Military Sealift Command in June. Started new position at Commander Naval Air Force Atlantic in the Readiness (N8) department. Enjoying the good life in Chesapeake, Virginia.” Photo: Zardeskas and happy crew.
1995
Capt. Greg Baker recently assumed command of the USS Wasp (LHS 1), making him the second MMA graduate to command the ship. Capt. Kurt Kasner ’89 previously commanded Wasp from January 2015 to April 2016.
1996
Steven Tosi is sailing as a second mate for Reinauer out of Staten Island, New York. Tosi lives in Marblehead, Massachusetts.
1997
Thanks to Capt. Todd Cooper who sent this photo and is among pilots representing MMA at the 2019 Bi-Annual Florida Harbor Pilots Convention held in Key West, Florida in November. From left to right: Cooper, Port Everglades Pilot; Capt. Nathan Cook ’96, St. John’s Pilot; Capt. Brendon McDonnell ’09, Port Everglades Pilot, Capt. Chuck Zenter ’96, Key West Pilot, and Capt. James “JD” Williams ’02, Biscayne Bay Pilot.
1998
The Maine Marine Patrol announced the promotion of 18-year veteran Matthew Talbot to the rank of Captain. Talbot joined the Marine Patrol in 2001 after earning associate degrees from Maine Maritime Academy in small vessel operations and from Southern Maine Technical College in law enforcement. After completing the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Program, he spent 12 years serving as a patrol officer in the Rockland-Searsport Patrol.

In his new role, Talbot will be responsible for directing all activities within Marine Patrol’s Special Services Division, which includes the Underwater Recovery Team, the Maritime Security Team, the Firearms Team and the Whale Disentanglement Team.

Talbot has received numerous honors during his career including the 2006 North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association Officer of the Year award; the 2010 and 2016 Maine Marine Patrol Commendation award; the 2013 Maine Lobstermen’s Association Officer of the Year award; the 2016 Maine Marine Patrol Colonel’s Supervisor award; and the 2017 U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Valor.
1999
Linette Casey recently received an Excellence in Character Award from POWERGEN International. Casey, who works for Siemens Energy Inc. in South Easton, Massachusetts, is the key account manager for New England, working with renewable developers, power producers, engineering firms, private equity firms and higher education facilities. She has been with Siemens for 18 years.
1999
Ashley (Tardif) Darnell is an assistant principal in the Katy (TX) independent school district. She has three children Jacey (15), Audrey (12) and Arya (5).
1999
Cyrus Dimock is Master/OIM for Transocean in Houston, Texas. Dimock and his wife, Krista, live in Glen, New Hampshire with their daughter, Jemma.
2000
According to the Ellsworth American, Roderick J. Fraser Jr. will star in NBC’s new TV reality series Meet the Frasers. The 10-episode series, debuting on NBC’s E! Entertainment cable channel on January 13, revolves around Fraser’s psychic medium son Matt, who credits his mother and grandmother for his gift to hear “messages from heaven.” Fraser served for 21 years in the U.S. Navy, including command of the guided-missile frigate USS Underwood during the Iraq War and as the Boston Fire Department’s commissioner for seven years.
2000
Matt McNealy is commanding officer of the USS Kidd (DDG 100). McNealy earned a MBA at the Naval Postgraduate School. His at-sea assignments have included Damage Control Assistant and Navigator in USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60), Engineering Officer in USS Mason (DDG 87) and Material/Logistics Officer in Destroyer Squadron 22. He has served as strategic capabilities branch chief in the Directorate for Strategy, Policy, Partnering and Capabilities; as an instructor at the Surface Warfare Officers School Command; as an action officer assigned to the chief of naval operations staff to the director, fleet readiness; and as the future operations team leader for U. S. Africa Command.
2000
Megan (Noonan) Swaney and her husband, James, live in South Berwick, Maine. She is a stay-at-home mom for her daughter, Rachel, age 4.
2002
Deb Smith (right) is a marine technician aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute research vessel Falkor. MMA senior Sydney Adams met up with Smith aboard Falkor this summer. Eric King ’90 is director of marine operations for the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
2003
Casey Gagne is sailing as chief engineer for Hornbeck Offshore Services and lives in Olalla, Washington.
2004
Sean Varney, his wife, Rhonda, and their two boys, Dillon and Tyler, have moved to Arizona. Sean recently created an app that tracks expiration dates for personal and professional documents, maritime and non-maritime related. Learn more on his Facebook page: facebook.com/licensedapp.
2009
Tim Herrle is sailing as second mate with Dunlap Towing. He reports, “I really enjoyed my time at MMA, and absolutely love working in the maritime industry. I’ve been sailing in Alaska and Hawaii on Dunlap Tugboats for the last five years. Great company to work for. Having six months off each year lends itself to lots of fun and outdoor adventures! Living the dream.” He and his wife, Sarah, live in Medina, Ohio.
2009
Bryan Kneeland is Chief Mate for Crowley Petroleum Services. He lives in Englewood, Colorado.
2010
Alexander Efron is sailing as Chief Mate for Kirby Offshore Marine and lives in Brooklin, Maine.
2010
Isaiah Roberts, his wife Caissie (Nevala) Roberts ’13, and Harry Finn ’09 and his wife Gina purchased the Machias Hardware Store (Maine) and reopened it in July as the Machias River General Store. The new owners will continue to run the retail establishment that has been a fixture in town for generations.
2011
Eric Eaton of Seabridge Marine got a helping hand from some neighbors to rescue the 65-foot fishing boat Scout that ran aground in the wake of the windy storm that hit Bass Harbor, Maine on Halloween night. His salvage business was only two months old and off to a busy start with recent fall storms. Eaton worked as a merchant mariner for eight years before starting the company. Source: MDIslander.com
2011
Dan Weamer ’11 is a Docking Pilot for the Delaware River Harbor Pilots, Capt. Eric James ’93 is a River Pilot for The Pilots’ Association for the Bay and River Delaware, and Joe Chesworth is a Docking Pilot Apprentice for the Delaware River Harbor Pilots.
2013
James Michie is Dynamic Positioning Officer for Transocean. Michie lives in Severna Park, Maryland.
2013
Jean Payne, wife of Fred Payne ’74, sent a wedding photo of their daughter and bride Danica Payne ’13 and groom Levitt Storer ’07 from the event in Thuret, France, August 30, 2017 that also included other almuni. Shown left to right: Park Tupper ’07, Fred Payne, Joseph Gunnel ’07, Levitt Storer, Danica Payne, Jonathan Payne ’14, Jonathan Storer ’15, and Cameron Murphy ’14.
2014
Alic Albright works as a senior sales engineer for NECI, and focuses on “helping our customers to succeed in their businesses by extending the life of their critical assets, reducing process variability, controlling costs, minimizing maintenance requirements, and implementing value-added technologies.” He and his wife Kayla live in Unity, Maine and have three children.
2014
Ben Cummings is a boiler inspector for Boiler Services and Inspection, Simsboro, Louisiana. Ben and his wife Colleen live in Lamoine, Maine
2015
Bill Wetherbee has joined the Jewett Construction project management team. With expansion underway at the company’s Maine office, Wetherbee will be a field manager to oversee projects and to ensure structure and coordination at each site he is assigned.
2015
Congratulations to Adam Weymouth who has started a new job at George’s River as a stationary engineer.
2018
Edison Ma is a surveyor for American Bureau of Shipping and lives in Seattle, WA.
2018
Chris Grindle is a Firefighter AEMT for the city of Bucksport, Maine. He is enrolled in Eastern Maine Community College in the Emergency Medical Services program to become an EMT-Paramedic. When not on duty, Grindle operates his landscaping business.