CLASS NOTES for the July/August '00 Issue of ASSEMBLY Magazine
Col (Ret) Francis R Sullivan
2662 SE Gowin Dr
Port St Lucie, FL 34952-5576
800-GRAND40(Recorder) - My home phone: (561) 337-1626
e-mail: franksul@aol.com
Class e-mail address: classof40@aog.usma.edu
Class Home Page on the web: http://www.aogusma.org/class/1940/
Once again the Notes composition task begins(Apr 18). By the time it's available in the Jul-Aug issue of Assembly our 60th reunion will be history. Thank goodness a lot of information has come to me as e-mail; the first An letter came with 9 photos on one event - The Space Coast WPS Founders day dinner Mar 4. Barney & Glennie Barnard, Jack & Bev Dibble, Frank & Betty Devlin and Scottie & Priscilla Case were in attendance. With the note he sent with the photos Jack said the talk by the former Comm MG Joe Franklin, '55, was enlightening about the current state of the Corps and about plans for the WP Bicentennial celebration. (Insert photo #1 here. All other photos were taken at the Cape Cod Mini, Oct 99.)
There was much e-mail traffic concerning air travel to our reunion and whether Newburgh airport the nearest one to WP was really available. Helen Greene(Dalt's wife) was the first to e-mail the class exactly how she booked it via Newburgh. Dalt and Wing Jung are understood to be traveling that way from San Francisco. Later an E from Betty Parker told us how she arranged her travel from DC to Newburgh. The sharing of information on travel was much facilitated by Steve Morrisey who kept tabs on the bits and pieces of the puzzle to be able to pass it on to those of us who needed help and made their needs known by e-mail. The Ed Verners are following suit via air to Newburgh. No doubt others will have chosen that route on the basis of the information disseminated though the class internet. An e-mail from Harriet Davis(widow of Ted) tells us she is now on webtv, is all set to attend the reunion: the morning after which she has planned a graveside memorial service in Ted's honor. Present count of reunion attendees is 64 grads. 8 widows and 20 others; this info mainly by courtesy of Steve M and Betty Parker.
The Spring luncheon of the DC contingent was duly held at Belle Haven Country Club(BHCC) under the kind auspices of Marge & George Mayo. The usual good turnout occurred as expected according to an E from George. He also advised the date for the Fall luncheon at BHCC would be Sunday Nov 19 00.(Insert photo #2 here)
Pete Kramer reported in an E on the activities of the San Antonio contingent. Most notable was Morry Shoss' April 16 birthday party hosted by himself. The party was attended by such worthies as Bart Barton and Ed Verner. The participants took note of Morry's life long devotion to swimming. According to Ed, in the past 11 years Morry has participated in the Senior Olympics winning 79 medals in the process. In this years competition Morry won 7 gold medals in the 7 swimming events he entered. Bravo, Morry!
Steve Morrissey's diligence as our webfoot has not been rewarded to the extent he deserves. Nevertheless, his efforts have boosted our list of e-mail addresses to 67. most of whom we know are listening or "lurking" the class net. Steve's most recent comment about class participation finds Allan & Jeanne Crockett our best foreign correspondents with their wide range of interests and creative writing. They have shared their views of life in their beloved San Miguel de Allende , Mex. Their anecdote about the Jesuit priest friend stirred a lot of thoughtful response from several of our netters like Andy D'Elia, Dale Epley, Fran Brewer and Bart Barton. Sadly, the Jesuit died (to my mind at early age). But the Crocketts are wily and no doubt will find other enlightening sources of thoughts with which to regale us. We also can thank Allan for giving us a run down on the J J Smiths, from whom little has been heard in several years. Allan learned that J J is not in robust health but there are many among who similarly lack robustness! Let's hope Allan's efforts to get JJ to get a computer bear fruit. The Smiths are living quietly in Palos Verdes Estates, CA.(Insert photo #2 here)
Sam Patten responded briefly with a "Here" to Steve's courtesy call. No doubt Sam is busy with his birds, plants and community volunteering. Connie Hughes continues to supply our e-mail readers with bits of humor. I am sure Connie knows we enjoy them and pass them on to our other friends in cyberspace, but probably would appreciate a more direct response expressing to her that appreciation.. Just (Apr 20) got a call from my cadet roommate, Frank Devlin, advising that he and wife Betty are set for the reunion After that they plan to take an AOG sponsored trip to Ireland. A few days ago Frank called our E Co tac Col T J Wells, '28, in Oahu, HI. T J is doing fine and was pleased to have greetings from some of his cadet charges of the '36-'40 era.(Insert photo #3 here)
Heard from Ford & Peg Fuller in a justifiably belated Christmas card. Now we know why they did not make the Cape Cod Mini. Peg was not feeling so hot then,. but matters are better so we should see them at the 60th. By courtesy of George Mayo we learn that the Bob Knapp's address in MA is still valid though Bob's health is not the best. A letter from Kathy & Bill Porte reports Bill's recovery from the heart attack he suffered on a cruise to Australia earlier this year is coming along but Bill has to have oxygen available most of the time thus precluding travel to the reunion. (Insert photo #4 here)
The winter gathering of some classmates at Sanibel, FL came off as forecast . The attendance by "regulars" was some what below normal with the Renolas off on an Italian Festival Cruise in the Caribbean and the Abbeys unable to make it. Bob & Pat Cassibry opted for Sea Island, GA this year. Nevertheless, many of the perennials did like Kerm & Bobbe Dyke, Dick & Marnie Kent, Bid & Criss Moore, Fran Nuelle, Fran & Bob Brewer and of course, Bert & Jean Lane who live there year round. Dudley Maxwell messaged the group how much he had enjoyed Sanibel in the past but Betty's health now negates such travel. He, his two sons and grandson were set for the 60th.(insert photo #5 here)
SICK AND DISTRESSED: June Marsh(Swampy's spouse) suffered a stroke 21 Apr and was hospitalized at Norfolk Gen Hosp; later she may be moved to Riverside Convalsescent Center, Newport News.
TAPS: Russell Manzolillo, DOD 29 Feb 00 at Saverna, MD, burial at Arlington Nat Cem: Nora Witt(beloved spouse of 58 years of Lanny), DOD 27 Apr 00 at El Paso, TX, burial at Fort Bliss Nat Cem 1 May 00.
Best, your scribe, Frank
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