This website is provided for Classmates and their families to host news, views , and photographs of interest to the Class. To offer comments or suggestions contact the webmaster via email at willyaye@gmail.com
4/24/19
NO TIME FOR RETIREMENT! Our Poet's poem For the 65th Reunion of the Class of 1954
NO TIME FOR RETIREMENT! *
For the 65th Reunion of the Class of 1954
Not a muffled drum heard, nor a funeral note
As we gather once more with our buddies—
So long it has been since our record we wrote,
And much longer since ending our studies.
"Sixty-five" has arrived, a significant year,
When some younger pups head to retirement,
But we, younger still, greet the day with good cheer,
And a sunny outlook for requirement.
O, the times we've lived through! And men that we knew,
How brave we all started together!
Our power was full and our course it was true,
No matter the wind and the weather!
The dangers we dared and the memories shared,
The stories we tell to our kiddies,
Such sorrows and joys could be hardly compared
Unless one has marched with the middies.
Then fill up the glasses and raise us a toast
To the Navy, the Class in its glory—
Touch hands with the shipmates we value the most,
Ours has been a remarkable story!
3-20-19
4/21/19
4/9/19
“ … LET IT BEGIN HERE!” -- Dick Raymond's April Poem
“ … LET IT BEGIN HERE!”
“Stand your ground, men. Don’t fire unless fired upon, but
if they mean to have a war …”
-- Captain John Parker to his Minute Men company
on Lexington Green, 19 April 1775
“Disperse, ye rebels!” cried the Brit,
Yet Minute Men stood fast,
Long odds dismayed them not a whit—
Then blazed the musket-blast …
The thunder rolled, the volley told,
And seven heroes fell,
Yet giving back defiance bold,
The Patriots fired as well,
That day the Redcoats ran for life,
From Concord bridge were chased,
With seven years of bitter strife
Colonials were faced,
But with stout hearts and fighting blood
Our nationhood was born,
Beginning with the troops who stood
At Lexington, that morn!
4-3-19
3/26/19
Death of a Classmate - Ivan Joseph Jones - nongrad
Ivan Joseph Jones (March 26 1931 - March 2, 2019)
Col. Ivan Joseph Jones 87, of Rainier Oregon passed away on March 2nd, 2019 at St. John's Hospital in Longview, WA surrounded by his children.
Ivan was born March 26th, 1931 to Ivan Harold and Berniece (Dehné) Jones in Great Falls, MT. His family spent time in Portland, OR and later moved to Columbia County. He graduated from Rainier High School in 1948 and then attended Vanport and Oregon State University before receiving an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MA. He returned home his junior year to marry the love of his life Jean (Van Swoll) on August 23rd, 1952 and received an early discharge. Ivan then attended the University of Portland where he served in the Air Force ROTC and earned a bachelor's degree in engineering.
After graduation, Ivan served four years as an active duty fighter pilot in the United States Airforce. Upon discharge from active duty, Ivan joined the Oregon Air National Guard where he served for 27 years. While in the National Guard, Ivan rose to the rank of colonel and concluded his time in service as director of operations and vice commander at headquarters. Simultaneously, Ivan obtained his Professional Engineering License in mechanical engineering and worked for the Army Corp of Engineers. While working for the Army Corp he also obtained a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Stanford University in 1968.
Ivan and Jean raised three children before building their home overlooking the Columbia River in Rainier, OR. In 1986 Ivan retired, but continued to serve his community through involvement on the Clatskanie PUD Board of Directors and his church.
Ivan is preceded in death by his parents Ivan and Bernice Jones, wife Jean (Van Swoll), and sister Donna Mulford. He is survived by his sons David and Thomas Jones, daughter Deborah (Ray) Kampfer, granddaughter Victoria (Alex) Kampfer, grandsons Cameron and Trevor Jones, brother Pierre (Betty) Jones, sister Yvonne Braeme, brother in-law Daniel Mulford, cousin Vincent (Kathy) Cooney and many nieces and nephews.
The family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Community Home Health and Hospice of Longview, WA.
A funeral mass will be held at 12:00 pm on March 30th, 2019 at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Rainier, OR. Mass will be presided by Father Mark Gikenyi. A reception will follow in the church hall.
3/25/19
Death of a Class Wife - Mary Samels Pease
Mary Samels Pease (APRIL 8, 1932 – MARCH 22, 2019)
Mary Samels Pease passed away on March 22, 2019, in The Woodlands, Texas. She was born April 8, 1932, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the third of four daughters born to Ray and Ruth Samels. The family moved to Fargo, North Dakota in 1945 where she graduated from Sacred Heart Academy high school in 1950. She then attended North Dakota Agricultural College where she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. While in high school she met her soul mate, David Pease, and they married in 1954 soon after he was graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy.
Mary had a special gift of making a wonderful home wherever the family moved; a necessity, as she relocated 12 times in their first 18 years of marriage both as a military and corporate wife. Her outgoing personality allowed her to easily assimilate into every locale where she lived.
Throughout her life, Mary gave back to the community by volunteering to various causes related to charitable entities. Even though health issues limited her mobility in later life, she continued volunteering by knitting caps for newborn babies.
She had a wonderful personality and a knack for making friends, many of whom were lifelong. She loved to entertain, especially at their summer lake home in Minnesota. She joked that she got a lot of practice entertaining because of the many guests who visited during the 20 summers they spent there.
Mary was a parishioner of Saints Simon & Jude Catholic Church in The Woodlands for over 39 years. She had a deep devotion to her faith and was actively involved in many of the parish ministries.
Throughout her married life, family was her number one priority. Indeed, they were her pride and joy as evidenced by her love and devotion for her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by all.
She leaves behind her husband, Dave, after 65 years of marriage; sons David (Monica) and Michael (Pam); daughter Marnie (John); 11 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her son Steven and daughter Margaret, both of whom died in infancy; her parents Roy and Ruth; and her sisters Martha, Jane and Susie.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March, 26, 2019, from 3:30 until 5:30 in the Fireside Room at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home, 18000 I-45 South, The Woodlands, Texas, 77384. The date of the Memorial Mass is pending. For more information, please visit www.forestparkthewoodlands.com.
Forest Park - The Woodlands Funeral Home
The Woodlands, TX
936-321-5115
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/the-woodlands-tx/mary-pease-8225699
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3/22/19
Sub Memories - Sent in by David G Smith
While I was a JO on SWORDFISH, SSN 579, we stopped in Formosa (1959) to pick up Chiang Kai-shek and his Generals to take them to sea for a demonstration of US military strength.
I was assigned as OOD to take the ship to sea, submerge it and then turn over to Carl Trost while I toured some of the generals through the ship. After we left port and prior to submerging, Chiang Kai-shek came up for a view and I asked to take his picture. Result:
Here is a picture that was taken prior to getting underway: He is on the left and I am on the right.
3/21/19
Death of a ClassMate - Joseph Anthony Derrico - 12th Co
Joseph Anthony Derrico, 90 of Viera, FL passed away on Thursday, March 7, 2019. He was born in Gloversville, NY and came to Brevard County from upstate NY in 2004. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Joe worked as a mechanical engineer for various companies in New York City and he was the owner of All Seasons Climate Control in Albany, NY. In "retirement" he had second careers as home inspector and an engraver working well into his 80's. Affable and engaging, Joe was an active member of every community in which he lived. From his youthful days as a boy scout to serving in various leadership positions for the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to a life-long commitment to Rotary International, Joe was a joiner and a doer. As much as he valued his profession, Joe valued his avocations which included always coming out a "little bit ahead" in weekly poker games, trying to outperform Wall Street prognosticators, beating the racetrack odds, and, scoring a grand slam in bridge. He left a legacy of service, resilience, commitment, and civic responsibility to his family. He was a member of Rotary International, US Naval Academy Alumni Association, and the Elks Club. Survivors include his wife; Guinda Lahaie Derrico, daughters; Elizabeth Derrico of Albany, NY and Susan Derrico (Thomas Buske) of Melrose MA; sister; Marie Eaton of Gloversville, stepson; David Lahaie of Rensselaer, NY and his son Spencer Lahaie; nieces; Mary Eaton of Saratoga, NY, Barbara Valovic of Gloversville, NY, and nephews; Russell Eaton of Latham, NY, James Eaton of Gloversville, NY, and Richard Derrico of Walnut Creek, CA. He also leaves many great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter; Ann Marie Derrico, wife; Margery Derrico, brother; Anthony Derrico, and his parents; Joseph A. Derrico and Theresa Natanska Derrico. A Celebration of Joe's life will be held at the convenience of the family. Donations in his memory may be made to the Rotary International Foundation.
3/20/19
Death of a class wife: Mrs. Diane Chachere Gaskill
Diane Chachere Gaskill, 83, went to be with the Lord in Heaven on March 17. 2019. She was born in New Orleans on 24 October 1935 to Marvin E. Chachere and Diana Marie Chachere (Lafleur) and grew up in Baton Rouge. As a teenager, she and her sister Bobbie Chachere taught ballet and dance while Diane attended Louisiana State University. In October 1954, at an LSU football game dance, she met Ensign Richard (Dick) Gaskill, a recent US Naval Academy graduate, who was beginning basic flight training at Whiting Field, Florida. After meeting Richard, Diane told her father that she had met the man she was going to marry. Diane and Dick were married on June 11, 1955. They honeymooned in the Carolinas and then moved to Corpus Christi where Richard was stationed for advanced flight training.
Diane served as a loving Navy wife throughout Dick's career as an attack pilot serving in squadrons on both coasts and as Commanding Officer of the USS NIMITZ. For many years Diane was one of the leaders of Navy Officer and Enlisted wives groups including during the Vietnam War period.
After Rear Admiral Gaskill retired from the Navy in 1981, the Gaskill's moved to Pensacola where they were close to their many Navy friends. Diane and Dick helped found Perdido Bay United Methodist Church and for many years Diane taught a very popular Sunday school and Bible class. She and Dick were also very active in Pensacola First United Methodist Church and Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church.
Diane earned a degree from LSU and was a very knowledgeable grade school teacher and a talented artist who drew and painted beautiful scenes with ease, and created wonderful ceramic figurines. Diane traveled the world with her husband and extensively visited every continent except the Antarctic.
Diane is survived by her husband of 64 years Richard; two sons David and Danny; daughter Debra; granddaughters Kori and Mary, grandson Richard; Great Granddaughter Lilliauna; Sisters Cherie Long, Bobbie Edwards and Mary Frances Chachere; Dick's sister Betty Brown and many members of her family.
A visitation will be held at Oak Lawn Funeral Home, 619 N. New Warrington Rd., on March 20 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. A memorial service will be held at Perdido Bay United Methodist Church at 11:00 am on March 21.
Diane will be buried in Dayton, Texas on March 23, at 1:00 pm.
The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Dayton with a service to begin at 1:00 p.m. at the church with Rev. George Ohmstede officiating. Burial will follow at Magnolia Park Cemetery in Dayton.
Arrangements are under the direction of Oak Lawn Funeral Home, 619 N. New Warrington Rd., Pensacola, Florida and Pace-Stancil Funeral Home 1304 N. Cleveland Dayton, Texas 77535, 936-258-5300, www.pacestancil.com.
Published in Pensacola News Journal on Mar. 20, 2019
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