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2011 - JAN-FEB
2011 - JAN-FEB 2011 - MAR-APR 2011 - Stewardship 2011 - MAY-JUN 2011 - JUL-AUG 2011 - Member Services 2011 - JUL-AUG-Special Kelley 2011 - SEP-OCT 2011 - NOV-DEC

Dear ’mates:  What an outstanding 35th Homecoming Reunion!  Mike Lord and his whole reunion committee put on the best event Nancy and I have ever made … and we have only missed one or two.  Special credit goes to Larry Weckbaugh for once again ensuring that the tailgater was top-notch.  Who goes to a football game expecting to eat fresh-shucked oysters and the best Maryland crab cakes ever made?  (It was at least two weeks until my yearnings for crab cakes returned.)  The bad part of the weekend (spotting Duke a 24-0 halftime lead) was out of our hands. 

Great memories of the 35th

  • Taking over the entire restaurant at Mike’s Crab House Thursday night and listening and watching as classmates and wives table-hopped around the room to renew old friendships.

  • Breakfast at Paul’s Café on West St. arranged by Rhonda and Chuck Geyer.  The entire menu was dedicated to ’75.  I had the “Flowerchildren omelete.’

  • Lunch in the O-Club after the class meeting on Friday (a warm-up crab cake sandwich).

  • A quick tour through the remodeled museum.  You could spend all day in there!

  • After listing the many accomplishments of ’65 at the President and Supe’s brief, Byron Marchant started his remarks about ’75 with “Class motto … The Flower Children of the Brigade!”  (Laughs and strange looks from ‘65 on the main floor of the Mahan Hall auditorium and thunderous applause and cheers from the “younger folks” in the balcony.)

  • Suddenly being struck by our classes “seniority” when I read the P-rade program and saw that the reviewing officers were ADM Kirk Donald and ADM Jon Greenert.

  • The crush of well-dressed, good-looking men and women at the cocktail party before the dinner dance.

  • Jim Tenuto in a kilt.

  • Talking to the 1960 Orange Bowl team just before they were honored at half time.  “Any of you have any eligibility left?”  “Find us helmets and shoulder pads.  We can play better than this!”

<photo 75#1: “Carrizales, Curlee, Langley, and Cikanovich”>

<photo 75#2: “Tracys and Konrads at Mikes – obviously before the pitchers began to flow and the crabs began to fly”>

<photo 75#3: “8th Company”>

<photo 75#4:  “Warrenfeltz, Carrizales, and Mears”>

<photo 75#5: “ADM Greenert and ADM Donald review the Fall Dress P-rade along with the Superintendant—VADM Mike Miller ‘74”>

<photo 75#6: “Aye Jim, I like a good single malt myself”>

Sadly, the euphoria of the reunion is balanced by several losses suffered among our family.  Nelson Bendeck let us know that Jaime Acevedo (his brother-in-law) died just before Homecoming.  Scott Lindsey (LtCol, USMC Ret.) passed away as the result of a massive stroke on 12 NOV.  Mike Fackrall’s son, Shane was killed in Afghanistan.  Shane was an Army lieutenant.  Our sincere condolences go out to the families and friends of our friends.

Shortly after attending his final Homecoming on active duty, Jay Donnelly celebrated a Change of Command and Retirement on 5 NOV in Norfolk.  Jay turned over command of Commander, Submarine Forces / Submarine Force Atlantic / and Allied Submarine Command to VADM John Richardson.  In his remarks, Jay said that he will probably be remembered as “the guy who introduced women to the submarine force and banned smoking.”  But even as great as his many real accomplishments were for the Navy and the submarine force, he is best known for the way he treated people and made friends.  VCNO Jon Greenert was Jay’s guest speaker.  Jon said it well.  “You have been a leader who knows how to take care of Sailors.”  A nice representation of classmates attended the ceremonies, showing once again what a true friend you made when you met Jay.  [Scribe’s note: As an O-6 on a visit to Offutt AFB, I was searching for my assigned DV quarters in the dark.  My headlights lit up a sign—RDML J.J. Donnelly, USN.  Even though I didn’t really know Jay that well, there was no doubt in my mind that if I didn’t find my place soon, I would be welcome in Jay and Mimi’s home … even at 2200 at night.]

<photo 75#7: “Great turnout at the Donnelly retirement”>

Next issue will bring you a whole lot more of the pictures from the 35th.  ---  ’75 Sir!  Larry

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Last modified: February 25, 2011