Sunday, January 31, 2010

Update

I have been contacting hotels in the Jacksonville area as I am planning to visit the area in March to evaluate them and try to make a selection for our reunion. This is probably the most difficult decision in the entire reunion process. I hope I can find one with good rates, good "bull session" facilities, a good banquet facility and an easy location to get to with free parking.

The most recent count of those planning to attend is now up to 24 shipmates. Since we are still over a year away from the reunion date, I think that is a very good indication that we are going to have a large turnout. I have received many responses that said they were not sure yet and I feel certain a good number of those will end up attending.

On a sad note, I received a note from Eric Spencer's wife that he had passed away June 27, 2008. I do not have information of when he served or what department /Division he was in.

Later this month I will have the opportunity to visit with Charlie Kepner as he and Jan will be here in Florida to visit Jan's sister. I can get some suggestions from him about the reunion as he chaired the Boston one several years back. We served together in the late 50's and when was Engineering Officer.

Smooth sailing and summer will soon be here

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

More good news and sad news

In the mail yesterday I received 2 more registrations and that brings the number planning to attend up to 20 shipmates. I am now getting more confident that we will have a large number attending.

I also received a note from Esther Almgren informing me of her husband Dave passing away on September 28, 2009 after complications from heart surgery. Dave served in 1957 -1960 in the Engineering Department. He was 73 years old at his passing.

Smooth sailing

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Good News & Sad News



I hope everyone had a Happy New Year and will continue to to do so this year.

Even though it still 15 months before we have our reunion, I have received replies that 14 shipmates will be attending. of course I will be there also. I do appreciate these responses and they give me the confidence that we are going to have good attendance and a great reunion.

Earlier this week I made a mailing of postcards to 61 shipmates that had not responded to my Email to them. Since I also had a postal address for them, this mailing will confirm to me that they have received reunion information.

I also received a sad Email from the daughter of Ed Czajka. Here what she had to say:

"My Dad, Ed Czajka , passed away on November 30, 2009. He passed away at age 82 from renal failure at his home, surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Marguerite Czajka"

I relied to her and expressed our condolences and said we would remember him and other who have passed away at the reunion.

On a more pleasant note, I was going through my Hazelwood photo file and I found the following two photos of Otis Wolfe. Otis served aboard 43 - 46 as a SM First Class. The one on the left was taken at the 2007 reunion and the one on the right was taken Dec 1, 1944. Otis is on the left in that photo and he may be in Hawaii.















Smooth sailing and once again, Happy New Year