Highlights From the Mini Reunion in Charleston 17-22 Mar 2024
Joe Fishburne and Gary Hyde planned and executed an outstanding mini reunion for
the Class of 1961 in Charleston, SC (actually Mount Pleasant, SC) during the
third week of March. This is an outline of activities during the week.
Interestingly, all but three cadet companies were
represented by someone. F-1, A-2 and F-2 were missing. There were 39 from the
first regiment and 35 from second. D-1 had the most there (9) with the Browns, Denneys,
Lelands, Whites and Carol Jean MacLean. I-2 was next (8) with the Jones, Kovacs,
Oaks and Trish Buckner and Ann Marie.
I don’t think Joe Fishburne and Gary Hyde could have picked a more convenient
hotel than the Homewood Suites in Mt Pleasant. It was right across the street
from multiple restaurants and shops, all in easy walking distance. The hotel
breakfast was good, the evening meals Joe had coordinated with a caterer were
outstanding and the hospitality room accommodated our group nicely. Gary had
brought his sound system along with enough West Point memorabilia to fill the
tables with things to occupy spare time. I should mention that both Joe and Gary
were in M-1 together.
2024 Founder’s Day Festivities at Heritage Hunt in Gainesville, VA
On 10 March, 23 classmates, spouses, widows, and offspring attended the Founder’s Day festivities at Heritage Hunt in Gainesville, VA. As usual,
the West Point Alumni Glee Club put on a stellar performance, highlighted by a solo performance by Greg Parks ’52. The meal was outstanding, but the best part
of the evening was the bonding and fellowship.
'61 Classmates and Wives Gathered at West Point to Bid Farewell to Pete Boylan
On 29 February classmates and wives gathered at West Point to bid farewell to Pete Boylan, along with a large number of Pete’s family and descendants.
Pete was accorded full honors, including a 13-gun salute. The Superintendent attended the Mass and subsequent ceremonies at the cemetery, and presented the
flag to Karen Boylan. He broke from the usual script to acknowledge Pete’s bond
with his ’61 classmates. The funeral services were followed by sharing of
stories and reminiscences at Eisenhower Hall.
Attendees pictured are, L-R: Ed Leland, Teri and John Grisoni, Rod Grannemann, Mike Eiland, Dawn and Bob Glass, Kathy Boylan, John Kilkenny, Karen and George Joulwan.
Donald H. Lewis "Don"
Company E-2
10 Nov 1937 - 1 Mar 2024
Place of Death: Evans, GA
Interment: West Point Cemetery, West Point, NY
It is with
great regret and sorrow that I must inform you of the death of our classmate,
Don Lewis, on March 1, 2024 In Evans, GA.
Don is survived
by his wife, Pat; their daughter, Sandra Knezevich and her husband Michael;
their son, Donald and his wife Edith; their daughter, Keri Monteith; their son,
Jeffrey and his wife Jennifer; and their grandchildren, Shelton Lewis, Raven
Lewis, Brayton Lewis, Harrison Monteith, Sullivan Monteith, Cooper Lewis, and
Benjamin Lewis.
A memorial
service with military honors will be held at 11:00 AM on March 18, 2024 at
Christ Church Presbyterian, 4201 Southern Pines Drive, Evans, GA 30809.
Interment will
be at the West Point Cemetery, West Point, NY on a date to be determined.
Condolences may
be set to Pat at 4275 Owens Road, Apt 2325, Evans, GA 30809-4063.
In lieu of
flowers, the family has requested that donations in Don’s memory be sent to the
American Junior Golf Association Foundation, 1980 Sports Club Drive, Braselton,
GA 30517; the West Point Association of Graduates, Attn: Gift Operations, 698
Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996 (write Army Football Team Endowment in the
check’s memo section); or Christ Church Presbyterian, 4201 Southern Pines Drive,
Evans, GA 30809.
Rings of Classmates of '61 Donated to 2024 Ring Melt
The five donors to the 2024 Ring Melt from the Class of 1961 begin at about
the 1:02 mark during this youtubeof the event. The five donors were Garretson, Geiger, Scivoletto, Sherburne, and
Vick.
Over the years, the tournament has been held at a
number of great venues. First year at Hilton Head; followed by nine
years at Greenlefe, FL; two years at Callaway Gardens, GA; two at Palm
Coast, FL; four at World Golf Village, St Augustine, FL; one at Amelia
Island, FL; three at the Robert Trent Jones (RTJ) Capitol Hill course in
Prattville, AL; two at the RTJ Grand National course in Opelika, AL; two at
Innisbrook, FL; and more recently : 2015-16 at Grand National, Opelika, AL;
and 2017-2019 at World Golf Village and the Renaissance World Village Resort
in St Augustine. For 2020, the Coronavirus pandemic caused a cancellation at
the Grand National at Opelika, Al. In 2021 and 2022, we returned to
the RTJ Courses at Grand National at Opelika, Al. In 2023 we were at
Mission Inn in Howey-in-the-Hills, FL.
The 2024 event
will be at Mission Inn in Howey-in-the-Hills, FL. While we sponsor
competitive golf amongst the classes for annual bragging rights for winning
the Commander’s Trophy, this tournament is all about fun and camaraderie.
It is a chance to see and visit with classmates and friends from other
classes. Your family members are also welcome to attend adding to the
diversity of the group. There is ample opportunity to relax and visit. We
welcome players at every skill level to participate in the event. Having a
good time is a requirement.
Do not assume that because you were signed up and paid your registration fee
for 2023 that you are automatically signed up for 2024.
Interment:
Miramar National Cemetery, San Diego, CA
It is with great regret and sorrow that we must notify you of the death of our
classmate, Gene Adams, on December 12, 2023, in Loveland, CO, as a result of
complications from blood disorders.
Gene is survived by his wife, Mary, and his sister, Patricia Van De Grift.
Burial will be at 9:30 AM on January 12, 2024 at Miramar National Cemetery, 5795
Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA 92122.
Condolences may be sent to Mary at 2102 Meander Rd, Windsor, CO 80550.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donation’s in Gene’s memory be
sent to Hearts & Horses, 163 N Co Rd 29, Loveland, CO 80537.
Some Class of 1961 Corps of Engineers Classmates Took the Columbia River Cruise
Moose Harmon and some Classmate Corps of Engineers took the Columbia River cruise on American
Cruise Company that Carolyn and Jim shared with Terry and Jean Kirkpatrick and
Gene Witherspoon. Cruise was in
mid-September this year. Started in Lewiston ID area on Snake river, down to
Columbia river, and out to Astoria OR, and back up to Portland. Excellent
service on nice big ships. This is the only photo with the three of us classmates. Also
in the photo is another Engineer Colonel, retired, Bob Whitley and his wife (in
left front). Jean was taking the picture, so she’s not shown. We had a great
time together, especially as all of us had been involved in the Corps of
Engineer river projects in our careers.
Thomas N, Sherburne "Tom"
Company K-2
5 Fen 1939- 28 Nov 2023
Place of Death:
Pacific Grove, CA
Interment:
Arlington National Cemetery
It is with great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our
classmate, Tom Sherburne, on November 28, 2023, in Pacific Grove, CA.
Tom is survived by his wife, Nancy; their daughter, Lisa and her husband Nguyen
Le; their daughter, Amy and her husband Fumio Sugihara; their son Mark; and
their grandson, Kaz Sugihara.
Funeral services are pending.
Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery on a date to be determined.
Condolences may be sent to Nancy at 22 Country Club Gate, Pacific Grove, CA
93950-5034.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Tom’s memory be sent
to their favorite charity or their local SPCA (or other local animal rescue
organization.)
It is with
great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our classmate,
Don Landry, on November 21, 2023, in Rio Rancho, NM, as a result of a heart
attack.
Don is survived by his wife, Sandra; his son Donald and his wife Connie; his
daughter Lizabeth Milner and her husband Thomas; his daughter Shannon Taylor and
her husband Zach; his grandchildren Alison Graham and her husband Clayton, Mark
Landry and his wife Kasey, Julianne Roberts and her husband Blake, Janet Milner,
Isabelle Mayne, Sophia Mayne, Hudson Mayne, and Augustus Taylor; his great
grandchildren Stephen Graham, Travis Graham, and Mitchell Landry; and his sister
Pat Killay. Don was predeceased by his first wife Janet.
Funeral
services will be at the West Point Cemetery on a date to be determined.
Condolences may
be sent to Sandra at 2624 La Luz Circle NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144-3727.
In lieu of
flowers, the family has requested that donations in Don’s memory be sent to the
Key Club Fund, ℅ Kiwanis, PO Box 94, Los Alamos, NM 87544.
Eleven Classmates And Wives Bid Farewell to Ben Covington As He Is Laid
To Rest
Eleven classmates and wives assembled at the West
Point Cemetery on 7 November to bid a fond but sad farewell to Ben
Covington, who was laid to rest beside his beloved wife Ruth. Ben’s family
had a reception at the Thayer Hotel following the service. Pictured from
front left clockwise are: Teri Grisoni, John Grisoni, Ed Brown, Mike Eiland,
Mac Greeley, Nancy Greeley, Kathy Conley, Will Conley, John Kilkenny, John
Java, and Donna Java.
William R. Williamson "Bill"
Company A-1
28 Aug 1938- 9 Nov 2023
Place of Death:
Richmond, VA
Interment:
Arlington National Cemetery
It is with great regret and sorrow that
we must notify you of the death of our
classmate, Bill Williamson, on November 9, 2023, in Richmond, VA as a result of
a fall in his home.
Bill is
survived by his wife, Kaye: his daughter, Deborah Dinkler and her husband Earl;
his daughter, Sandra Roberts and her husband Tom; his daughter, Laura Phillips
and her husband Scott; his son, Scott and his wife Mary Beth; and his son,
Timothy and his wife Nancy; his grandchildren, Ryan Roberts, Allison Roberts,,
Samantha Phillips, Sydney Phillips, Charles Williamson, Patrick Williamson,
Emily Williamson, Mather Williamson, Lily Williamson, and Jack Williamson; and
his great grandchildren, none yet, but Sophia Lynn Goodwin is expected in late
November. Bill was predeceased by his first wife, Bobbie.
A Celebration of Life service will be held from 3 to 5 pm on December 3, 2023 at Williamsburg Landing, 5700
Williamsburg Landing Drive, Williamsburg, VA 23185.
Funeral
services will be held at a future date.
Burial will be
at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date.
Condolences may
be sent to Kaye at 3009 Tanglewood Cove, Williamsburg, VA 23185-3795.
In lieu of
flowers, the family requests that donations in Bill’s memory be sent to Disabled
American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 or the USO, PO Box
96860, Washington, DC 20077.
It is with
great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our classmate,
Pete Boylan, on November 12, 2023, in Milledgeville, GA as a result of heart
failure due to a life well lived.
Pete is
survived by his wife, Kathy; their son, Peter III (USMA ’84) and his wife Pam
Vitrano; their daughter, Therese Bell (USMA ’86) and her husband Michael (USMA
’83); their daughter, Heather Drew and her husband Jason; their son, Gregory (USMA
’94) and his wife Colleen; their daughter, Emily Boylan and her husband Michael
Rutt; and fourteen grandchildren.
There will be a
memorial service in Milledgeville, GA at a date and time to be announced.
The Funeral Mass Thursday, February 29, 2024, will begin at 1:30pm at Most Holy
Trinity Catholic Church followed by burial at the West Point Cemetery. There
will then be a reception (a good Irish Wake!) at Eisenhower Hall. There will be
more information forthcoming.
Condolences may be sent to Kathy at 110 West Lakeview Lane NE, Milledgeville,
GA 31061-7831.
In lieu of
flowers, the family requests that donations in Pete’s memory be sent to a
Veterans Support Organization of your choice.
37 Class of '61 Classmates and Spouses Attended the Army - Air Force Game
People came and went, but by one count 37 classmates and spouses attended the Army - Air Force game extravaganza organized by Rod Grannemann in Denver. All of those who attended owe a huge debt of gratitude to Rod and his entire family — including grandchildren — for organizing and supporting the event.
Rod also arranged for beautiful weather and a demolition of the previously undefeated Air Force team. Our contingent viewed the game from two continuous suites in the Army end zone,
so we literally had ringside seats to almost all of the scoring.
At halftime the Supe dropped by to say hello.
Hopefully others will add photos including more of the attendees.
Franklin T. Tilton "Frank"
Company I-1
4 May 1939 - 20 Oct 2023
Place of Death: Laconia, NH
Interment: New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery
It is with
great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our classmate,
Frank Tilton, on October 20, 2023, in Laconia, NH.
Frank is
survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Liz); their children, Paul and his wife
Jennifer, Melinda (USMA 1992) and her husband Matthew Morgan, Jay and his
partner Katherine Daily, Michael (USMA 2000) and his wife Sarah, Susan and her
husband Daniel Ruecking (USMA 1997); their grandchildren, Kira, Brady, and
Landon Tilton, William, Ryan, and Andrew Ruecking, Madeline and Claire Tilton,
and Joshua and Maxwell Morgan; his sister, MaryLee Ayre; and his sister-in-law,
Joan Tilton.
Visitation will
be at 4 PM on November 12, 2023 at Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant
Street, Laconia, NH 03246.
A Funeral Mass
will be held at 9 AM on November 13, 2023 at St. Andre Bessette Parish, 291
Union Ave, Laconia, NH 03246.
Burial will
follow at 11 AM at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster
Highway, Boscawen, NH 03303.
Condolences may
be sent to Liz at 56 Orchard Street, Laconia, NH 03246-3027.
In lieu of
flowers, the family has requested that donations in Frank’s memory be sent to
New Hampshire Catholic Charities at 100 William Loeb Drive, Unit 3, Manchester,
NH 03109, or https://www.cc-nh.org/ways-to-give/donate/.
Interment: Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, Killeen, TX
It is with
great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our classmate,
Bill Sievers, on October 7, 2023, in Temple, TX, due to end stage Parkinson’s
disease.
Bill is
survived by his wife, Jane; their daughter, Victoria, and her husband, Terrence
Sullivan; and grandson, Nathaniel.
A funeral
service will be held Friday, November 3, 2023, at 11:00 AM at the Central Texas
State Veterans Cemetery, 11463 State Highway 195, Killeen, TX 76542.
A Celebration
of Life service will follow at 1:00 PM at the First Presbyterian Church, 704 M.
L. King Jr. Drive, Copperas Cove, TX 76522.
Condolences may
be sent to Jane at 1820 Janis Drive, Killeen, TX 76549.
In lieu of
flowers, the family requests that contributions in Bill’s memory be sent to
First Presbyterian Church, 704 M. L. King Jr. Drive, Copperas Cove, TX 76522.
This is an
excel file with
latest list of folks that indicated they are planning to attend.
i.
If you have simple changes to make let me know and I will make them.
ii.
If you have a lot of changes to make – go on line and fill out a new form.
Very good turnout so far, up to 100 at this point.
This is a busy time of year for the hotel, so if you have not registered
you should read the info below, register, and MAKE YOUR HOTEL
RESERVATION NOW!
2.
Mini Dates
Have changed and are now firm.
Activities Sun 17-Thu 21 Mar 2024
Hotel reservation to participate in all activities –
Arrive Sun 17 Mar depart Fri 22 Mar.
It is with
great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our classmate,
Bill Nesbeitt, on October 8, 2023, in Port Townsend, WA.
Bill is
survived by his wife, Karen; their daughter, Mari (Enrique); and their son, Kirk
(Janice); and their many grandpups.
A celebration
of Bill’s life will be scheduled on a date to be determined.
Condolences may
be sent to Karen at 1069 56th Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368-1216.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Bill’s memory may
be sent to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516
Wounded Warrior Program or
a charity of your choice.
H-2 Group Met In San Antonio 15 Sep 2023 for the Army/ UTSA Game
An H2 Group met in San Antonio for the Army/ UTSA game on
September 15. They spent the 4 day weekend at a 1857 historic B&B on the
Riverwalk. Happy to see Army win.!!
L to R ...Vivian Battle, Brendan Battle, Dolly Stokes,
Kimberly Shroyer Day, Jim Stokes, Ruth Kee, Bob Kee, Pat Shroyer
Eggleston ’61 Releases “The Crossover Point of the Vietnam War”
Mike
Eggleston ’61 has published his new book, “The Crossover Point of the Vietnam
War.” This book provides an historic account of the Vietnam wars. It starts with
the French war from 1945 to 1954 and continues with the American War that ended
in 1975. First-hand accounts of the participants are included that help explain
what happened. These include advisors, a medic, a dog handler, staff officers,
repairmen and senior commanders as well as infantry soldiers. Historians also
provide details. Dozens of maps are included with photos of the key people
involved in the wars. The U.S. strategy is explained with details of why it
failed
Durbin L. Wagner "Durb"
Company I-2
6 Sep 1937 - 10 Jul 2023
Place of Death: Mechanicsburg, PA
Interment: Odd Fellows Cemetery, Tamaqua, PA
It is with
great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our classmate,
Durb Wagner, on July 10, 2023, in Mechanicsburg, PA.
Durb is
survived by his wife, Judi; their son S. Durbon and his wife Yolanda; their
daughter Jane; nine grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
Services were
held on July 19, 2023 at Boyer Family Funeral Home, New Bloomfield, PA and on
July 20, 2023 at Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home, Tamaqua, PA.
Interment will
be at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Tamaqua, PA at the convenience of the family.
Condolences may
be sent to Judi at 404 Winding Hill Road, Newport, PA 17074-7803.
Contributions
in Durbin's memory may be made to the West Perry Athletic Department, West Perry
School District, 2606 Shermans Valley Road, Elliottsburg, PA 17024.
It is with
great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our classmate, Ed
Bruner, on September 3, 2023, in Bethesda, MD.
Ed is survived
by his wife, Elease; his sons Scott (USMA ’86) and his wife Sandra, and David (USMA
’88); his grandchildren Katherine Levesque and her husband Michael, and Charles
Bruner; and his great-grandchildren Theordore and Margaret Levesque; his stepson
Justin Greenhalgh and his wife Judy; and step-granddaughter Bailee Greenhalgh.
Ed was predeceased by his first wife, Eleanor.
Visitation will
be at 10-11 AM, September 11, 2023, at DeVol Funeral Home, 10 East Deer Park
Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, followed by the funeral service will be at 11 AM.
Interment will follow at Parklawn Memorial Park, 12800 Veirs Mill Rd, Rockville,
MD.
Condolences may
be sent to Elease at 12101 Little Creek Drive, Potomac, MD 20854-3431.
It is with
great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our classmate,
Bob Steege, on August 29, 2023, in Loudon, TN, after a long battle with
Parkinson’s Disease.
Bob is survived
by his wife, Suzie; their son, Jeffrey and his wife Kathy; their daughter,
Kimberley Epple and her husband Todd; and their grandsons, Luke and Layne Epple.
He was predeceased by their son, Kyle.
A Celebration
of Life will be held on Sunday, September 17, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at The
Community Church at Tellico Village, 130 Chota Center, Loudon, TN 37774. The
family will receive friends immediately following the service.
Condolences may
be sent to Suzie at 402 Chota Landing Way, Loudon, TN 37774-2992.
In lieu of
flowers, donations in Bob’s memory may be made to Smokey Mountain Service Dogs,
110 Tooweka Circle, Loudon, TN 37774 or The Community Church at Tellico
Village, 130 Chota Center, Loudon, TN 37774.
Interment: St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church cemetery.
It is with
great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our classmate,
Dan Minor, on August 11, 2023 in Athens, GA, as a result of Parkinson's/Multiple
System Atrophy (MSA).
Dan is survived
by his son, Napier; his daughter, Marion Mullinax; and grandchildren, Celeste (Tushar
Gupta) Minor, Christina Minor, Paul Mullinax and James Mullinax. Dan was
predeceased by his wife, Berkeley.
A celebration
of life service will be held on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 11:00 am at St.
Gregory the Great Episcopal Church, 3195 S Barnett Shoals Road, Athens, GA
30605.
Burial will
follow in the St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church cemetery.
Condolences may
be sent to Napier Minor, 445 Greystone Terrace, Athens, GA 30606.
In lieu of
flowers, the family has requested that donations in Dan’s memory be sent to the
UGA Foundation at The Georgia Museum of Art, Attn: Memorial Gifts honoring Dan
Minor, 90 Carlton Street, Athens, GA 30602.
Annual Gabe Gabriel Memorial A-Day Tailgate Held 12 August 2023 at West
Point
Years ago Gabe Gabriel established a tradition of hosting a gathering of new cadets and their families from Texas for refreshments after the Acceptance Day parade.
After Gabe passed away, the West Point Society of North Texas and the West Point Parents Club of North Texas decided to continue the tradition Gabe had started.
Thus began the annual Gabe Gabriel Memorial A-Day Tailgate,
“in honor of the tireless devotion that Gabe has shown to West Point and our Texas cadets."
Any members of the Class of 1961 who are at future A-Days are welcome at the event.
Benjamin W. Covington III "Ben"
Company F-1
14 Jan 1939 - 31 Jul 2023
Place of Death:
Vilas, NC
Interment:
West Point Cemetery, West Point, NY
It is with
great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our classmate,
Ben Covington, on July 31, 2023 in Vilas, NC.
Ben is survived
by his sons, Benjamin IV and his wife Lori, and Farley and his wife Lisa; eight
grandchildren; and one great grandchild. Ben was predeceased by his wife, Ruth.
Visitation will
be from 9 AM to 5 PM at Hampton Funeral Home, 683 Blowing Rock Road, Boone, NC
28607.
A celebration of Ben and Ruth’s lives will be at the Church of the Holy
Cross, Banner Elk, NC on a date to be determined
The funeral
service for Ben Covington will be at 1:30 PM, November 7, 2023, at the Old Cadet
Chapel with burial to follow in the West Point Cemetery.
Those attending
should meet at Hogan Funeral Home, 135 Main St, Highland Falls, NY 10928 NLT 1
PM.
The family is
planning a reception after the funeral -- details to be announced.
In lieu of
flowers, the family has requested that donations in Ben’s memory be sent to The
High Country Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, PO Box
3312, Boone, NC 28607-3312.
It is with
great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our classmate,
Joe Tschamler, on July 30, 2023, in Winston-Salem, NC.
Joe is survived
by his wife, Allene; their daughter, Addie McKee and her husband, Michael; and
grandchildren, David, Elizabeth, and Mary McKee.
A Memorial
service will be held on a date to be determined at Northwoods Baptist Church,
5204 Old Walkertown Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27105.
Condolences may
be sent to Allene at 4950 Dippen Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27105-8700.
In lieu of
flowers, the family requests that donations in Joe’s memory be sent to
Northwoods Baptist Church, 5204 Old Walkertown Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27105;
or the United Way of Forsyth, 301 N Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101.
It is with
great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our classmate,
Bruce Nichols, on July 13, 2023, in Savannah, GA.
Bruce is
survived by his wife Judy; his daughter Stacy Collins; his grandchildren Megan
Downing and Christopher Collins III; and his great grandson Thomas Downing. He
is also survived by Judy’s children Lisa Joselove and Mark Macolly and her
grandson Brody Macolly. Bruce was predeceased by his wife Mary Lynn and his
daughter Julie.
A funeral
service will be held at 11 AM, Saturday July 22, 2023 at St. Peter’s Episcopal
Church, 3 West Ridge Road, Savannah, GA 31411 followed by a reception in the
Parish Hall.
Burial will be
at a later date.
Condolences may
be sent to Judy at 7513 La Roche Avenue, Savannah, GA 31406-6401.
In lieu of
flowers, the family requests that donations in Bruce’s memory be sent to St.
Peter’s Episcopal Church, 3 West Ridge Road, Savannah, GA 31411.
Interment: Gracelawn Memorial Park, New Castle, DE
It is with
great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our classmate,
Roy Armstrong, on July 11, 2023, in Wilmington, DE, after a long battle with
Parkinson’s disease.
Roy is survived
by wife, Amy; his daughters, Megan Cole Armstrong and Katie Armstrong Gulick;
son-in-law Gregory Michael Gulick; and grandchildren, Theodore Lee Gulick,
Virginia Pearl Gulick, and Natalie Sandra Gulick.
Visitation will
be at 10 AM on Wednesday July 19, 2023 at Christ Church Christiana Hundred, 505
E. Buck Road, Wilmington, DE 19807 followed by a funeral service at 11 AM.
Interment will
be directly after the funeral service at Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 N. DuPont
Highway, New Castle, DE 19720.
Condolences may
be sent to Amy at 2401 Pennsylvania Avenue, Apt 305, Wilmington, DE 19806-1405.
In lieu of
flowers, the family requests that donations in Roy’s memory be sent to the
Parkinson's Foundation, Attn: Donor Services, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800,
Miami, FL 33131.
It is with
great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our classmate,
Bill Sullivan, on May 12, 2023, in Ashburn, VA.
Bill is
survived by his wife Christine; his daughter Patricia Rambin and her husband
Mitch (USMA '89); his son Gerard (USMA '93) and his wife Sally; five
grandchildren; and one great grandchild.
A Funeral Mass
was held on June 22, 2023 at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Tappan, NY.
Burial was at
Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill, NY.
Condolences may
be sent to Christine at 44141 Russell Branch Parkway, Unit 18, Ashburn, VA
20147-5090.
In lieu of
flowers, the family requests that donations in Bill’s memory be sent to St. Jude
Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Interment: Hugo of the Hills Columbarium, Bloomfield Hills, MI
It is with
great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our classmate,
Pat Carroll, on July 2, 2023, in Birmingham, MI.
Pat is survived
by his wife, Gerry; their children Chris Ulrich, Joe, Dan (Kathy), Dr. Mike (Dr.
Maria), and Mark (Amy) Carroll; their grandchildren Dr. Liz Ulrich MacLean
(Joe), Jack Ulrich, First Lieutenant Will Ulrich (Air Force), John, Paul, Mia,
Ella, Christy, Shannon, Meghan, Brian, Second Lieutenant Henry (Army), PJ, Mary
Kate, Charlie, Ashley, Heidi, and Mia Carroll; and their great-granddaughter
Maggie MacLean.
Visitation will
be held on Sunday July, 9th, 2023 from 3-8 PM at A. J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu,
Rodgers and Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward Avenue, Royal Oak, MI 48073.
(Scripture Service and Sharing of Memories begin at 7PM.)
A Funeral Mass
will be held on Monday July 10, 2023 at 10 AM at Holy Name Catholic Church, 630
Harmon Street, Birmingham, MI 48009. (Visitation at church begins at 9:30AM.)
Burial will
follow at St. Hugo of the Hills Columbarium, 2215 Opdyke Road, Bloomfield Hills,
MI 48304.
Condolences may
be sent to Gerry at 405 Bonnie Brier Street, Birmingham, MI 48009-1353.
In lieu of
flowers, the family requests that donations in Pat’s memory be sent to Angels’
Place, 29299 Franklin Road, Southfield, MI 48304.
It is with great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our
Classmate,
John Kammerdiener, on May 3, 2023, in Salt Lake City, UT.
John is
survived by his wife, Ellen; daughter Kristen Allen and her husband John;
daughter Susan Martin and her husband Spencer; son Mike and his wife Stephanie;
granddaughters Katie, Madi, Jenna, Lyndsey, and Lena; grandsons Graham, Evan,
and Jackson; and great-granddaughter Kinsley.
Funeral
services will be held on a date to be determined.
Condolences may
be sent to Ellen at 400 3rd Street, Marble Falls, TX 78654.
In lieu of
flowers, the family requests that donations in John’s memory be sent to the
charity of your choice.
Jim and Suzanne Nicholson Graciously Hosted Gathering on the 62nd
Anniversary of Our Graduation
Jim and Suzanne Nicholson graciously hosted a gathering
of classmates and wives (and children and grandchildren) at their home on the
62nd anniversary of our graduation. It was a great occasion, featuring many
reminiscences (and possible a couple of exaggerations).
’61 Classmates Gathered for Luncheon on 21 May 2023 in Atlanta
’61 Classmates gathered recently at Tupelo Honey restaurant in Atlanta. Mike and Rita Hale, former members of our group,
were guests at this occasion, who had driven up from Vero Beach, Florida for their grandson’s graduation. The turnout was splendid and conversation was lively. Since it was graduation weekend,
much of the conversation centered on grandchildren: what school they attended and where they were heading next. After the meal, Mike relayed a report he had received from
Mike Eiland on Reconciliation Plaza. Two missing members of the group were: Dan Minor and his son, Napier who we hope can join us for the next luncheon.
Front L/R: LewAnn Cerasoli; Viviane Battle; Judi Butterworth; Rita Hale; Ellen Trauffer(Buck Shaffer’s guest)
Middle: Courtney Rittgers; Mike Hale; Buck Shaffer
Back: Roger Cerasoli; Frank Egan; Brendan Battle; John Cornelson; Larry Butterworth.
Article by Mike Hale
Ed and Jerry Jones Honored 4 May 2023 at WPAOG Donor Tribute
Dinner
Ed and Jerry Jones were honored at the 4 May WPAOG Donor
Tribute dinner for going over one million dollars in lifetime giving to West
Point.
This was the citation in the program at the event.
The Superintendent, AOG Chairman of the Board, and AOG
CEO presented the recognition to Ed and Jerry.
Lionetti-Vandal Hall Dedication at Fort Sill on 1 May 2023
Fort Sill hosted a special event Monday, 1 May 2023, the dedication of the
Lionetti-Vandal Hall.
The hall is named in honor of two former leaders, Lieutenant General Thomas
Vandal and Lieutenant General Donald Lionetti.
The building will now live as a tribute to the legacy they leave behind, and
recognize the contributions they made to the Field and Air Defense Artillery
communities.
“We have such a rich history of people, and sometimes they can be forgotten,”
Retired Fort Sill Commanding General David Halverson said. “We want the younger
people to ask; why is it named this? They do research and understand that
selfless service, in any environment, throughout our country is the strongest
part of what we’re about as a nation, as an army, and as a fires branch.”
Vandal and Lionetti are recognized as two of the leaders in the development of
Air Defense Artillery.
Jim Scott Inducted into the Army Aviation Association Hall of Fame on 27 April 2023
Our classmate, Jim Scott, was inducted into the Army Aviation Association Hall of Fame at 6 PM on 27 April 2023 at the Gaylord Opryland
Resort in Nashville, TN.
Special Class of 1961 Award to Gary & Button Hyde for Extraordinary Service to
Classmates & Their Families
On behalf of the West
Point Class of 1961, the Class Officers hereby recognize Gary and Button Hyde
for extraordinary contributions to the Class and unsurpassed support of
classmates and their families.
Button and I want to express our appreciation for the honor and award you were
responsible for having the Class bestow on us. It was truly an amazing gesture,
an unprecedented recognition, and beyond anything we ever expected. Consider
this. We were rewarded for doing what we love to do and for being with the
people we love to be around. How fortunate can any couple be?
You all of all people know that you and many others do much of the work. We
just get the credit for what you all and others do.
Alexander J. Stuart III "Sandy"
Company B-1
17 Feb 1938 - 8 Apr 2023
Place of Death: Lynchburg, VA
Interment: Arlington National Cemetery
It is with
great regret and sorrow that we must notify you of the death of our Classmate,
Sandy Stuart, on April 8, 2023, in Lynchburg, VA.
Sandy is
survived by his wife, Linda; their daughter Sharon and her husband Jeffrey
Heida; their son Alexander IV and his wife Tammy; seven grandchildren, eight
great-grandchildren, along with three grandsons and two great-grandchildren by
family marriage.
A service will
be held at 1:30 PM on Tuesday, April 18th, at Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian
Church, 2424 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24503.
Sandy's funeral is scheduled at 3 PM, 29 August 2023, at Arlington National Cemetery. A
reception will follow.
Condolences may
be sent to Linda at 501 Ves Road, Apt W424, Lynchburg, VA 24503-4646.
In lieu of
flowers, the family requests donations in Sandy's memory be sent to Rivermont
Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 2424 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24503 or
Westminster Canterbury Lynchburg Foundation, 501 VES Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503.
Inurnment:
St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church Columbarium
It is with great regret and sorrow that we must notify you of the death of our
Classmate, Jack Turnage, on February 16, 2023, in Augusta, GA.
Jack is survived by his wife Helen; his son John Jr. (USAFA ’88) and his wife
Deann (USAFA '88); his daughter Annalyle Andrews and her husband Chris; his
daughter Emilie McCombs and her husband William (USAFA '94); and his
grandchildren Adelaide Turnage, John Turnage III, Bennett McCombs, Calvin
McCombs, Dunn Andrews, Annie Andrews, and Isaac Turnage. He was predeceased by
his son Taylor.
Visitation will be at 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM, February 20, 2023 at St. Mary on the
Hill Catholic Church, 1420 Monte Sano Avenue, Augusta, GA 30904.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12:00 PM, February 20, 2023 at St. Mary
on the Hill Catholic Church.
Inurnment will follow in the church columbarium.
Condolences may be sent to Helen at 1120 Glenn Avenue, Augusta, GA 30904-4614.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Jack's memory be sent to St
Mary on the Hill Catholic School: 1220 Monte Sano Avenue, Augusta, GA 30904 or
Aquinas High School, 1920 Highland Avenue, Augusta, GA 30904.
New Oral History Interviews by Kathy Boylan, Peter Boylan, Channing Greene, George Kopcsak, Phil Mallory, Paul Vallely and Jack Veatch
have been published 13 January 2023.
Impact of West Point Prep School (USMAPS) on Class of 1961
December 2022 Jim Oaks would like our ZOOM sessions to be built around the
members of our class who reported to the Man in the Red Sash on July 2, 1957 who
had been at
Stewart Air Field in Newburgh, NY at the USMA Prep School..
Ed Brown, who was one of the 90 new cadets who reported from the Prep
School that day, tells me that 38 of them graduated in 1961, two more in 1962
and one actually graduated from the Naval Academy in 1964.
Ed and Art Downey will lead the session and they will try to contact
as many of that group as possible to join in.
The following was prepared by Jim Oaks in preparing for some Class ZOOM Meetings…
Here are some things to consider when thinking about Army football when we were cadets.
Patrick J. Murphy "Pat"
Company K-1
24 Jun 1939 - 24 Oct 2022
Place of Death: Rochester, NY
Interment: St. Lawrence Church parish cemetery, Louisville, NY
It is with great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our
classmate, Pat Murphy, on 24 October 2022 in Rochester, NY.
Pat is survived by his wife, Willa; their daughter Loreen; son Bryan and his
wife Patricia; granddaughters Megan and Bonnie Anderson; and grandson Sean
Murphy. He was predeceased by their son, Patrick James.
Visitation will be from 4-7 PM, November 11, 2022 at Phillips Memorial Home, 64
Andrews Street, Massena, NY 13662.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 AM, November 12, 2022 at St. Lawrence
Church, 5472 Willard Street, Louisville, NY 13662. Burial will follow in the
parish cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to Willa at 85 West Hatfield Street, Massena, NY
13662-2510.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Pat’s memory may be sent to Massena Rescue
Squad, 371 E. Orvis Street. Massena, NY 13662.
Interment:
Arlington National Cemetery on a date to be determined.
It is with great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our
classmate, Ken Geiger, on 28 August 2022 in Raleigh, NC from natural causes.
Ken is survived by his wife, Joan; son Roy Blakey and his wife Rebecca,
daughters Megan King and her husband Steve, Mechele Peterson and her husband
Richard Croushorn, Melisa Allen and her husband Tommy, Corinn Lanzone and her
husband Tommy, 14 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at Arlington National Cemetery on a date to be
determined.
Condolences may be sent to Joan at 2204 Effingham Circle, Raleigh, NC
27615-3826.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Ken's memory may be sent to the
Superintendent's Endowment Fund. Make checks payable to West Point Association
of Graduates and mail to Gift Operations, West Point Association of Graduates,
698 Mills Road, West Point, New York 10996. In the check's memo section, please
designate Superintendent’s Endowment Fund.
It is with great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our
classmate, Jim Scott, on August 18, 2022, in San Antonio, TX, as a result of
complications related to Agent Orange exposure.
Jim is survived
by his wife, Kelly; their daughter Schell; their son James IV and his wife
Kathie; their daughter Lacy and her husband Michael Wyant; and their son Rusty
and his wife Brette; their grandchildren Alicsha, John, Madison, Katherine, Landyn, and Lincoln; and their great grandchildren
John and Alaina.
Jim's funeral will be at 10 AM, 12 June, at the West Point Cemetery. A reception will
follow.
Condolences may be sent to Kelly at 5303 Churubusco Drive, San Antonio, TX
78239-3071.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s memory may be sent to the Gary Sinise
Foundation, PO Box 40726, Nashville, TN 37204.
Classmates Took 2 Weeks Mediterranean Cruise from Istanbul 6 May thru
20 May 2022
John & Donna Java, Jim & Dollie Stokes, Gene Witherspoon, Pat Shroyer, John & Teri
Grisoni, Mike & Chan Eiland and Mick & Coralinn Maus spent 2 weeks cruising from
Istanbul to various Turkish, Israeli, Greek, Maltese, Italian and Spanish ports.
Our ship was terrific and the crew was very attentive to our every wish, plus
the evening entertainment was superb, in my opinion. The excursions were the
highlights; Ephesus, the Holy Land, Istanbul and many Roman & Greco ruins were
once in a lifetime treats. Highlights probably differ from couple to couple, but
most would agree that both Istanbul and Barcelona were impressive cities.
Istanbul, of course had Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Hagia Sophia was
originally built as a Christian church and converted to a mosque after the
Muslims conquered what had been Constantinople. Barcelona has the Sagrada
Familia by Antonia Gaudi, as I recall it was started in 1883 and is still under
construction. It is indescribable, I would say that it rivals St. Peter’s
basilica. If you would like to visit, one needn’t worry, it will be under
construction for many more years (decades?) I was impressed by the number of
fortifications we saw built by the Knights at the time of the crusades. The
Knights ruled in Rhodes Greece from 1309 until 1522.
Our guides were generally very good. Some of the outings
were very strenuous for octogenarians, but worth the effort. Covid took a toll
on some of our fellow cruisers, but the class had only one Covid casualty for a
few days. Confinement toone’scabin
on a cruise with food delivered to your room and you having to police your cabin
is not what most think of when cruising. This was another outing arranged by
Lois Bradfield, LB Tours LLC. Perversely, both Lois and Bill Bradfield were
Covid causalities for a good portion of the time.
Mick Maus
Darlington F. Andrews "Dart"
Company C-1
10 Mar1938 - 2 Nov 2019
Place of Death: Boulder, CO.
Interment: Arlington National Cemetery
It is with great regret and sorrow that I must notify you I have learned of the
death of our classmate, Dart Andrews, on November 2, 2019, in Boulder, CO.
Dart is survived by his wife, Pat; his sons, Jay and Jason; daughters-in-law,
Kimberly and Jessica; grandchildren, Sydney, Camryn and Paloma; step children,
James Kacsmari and Kathleen Saffelle; and step granddaughter Courtney North.
Dart was predeceased by his wife, Doris.
Burial was in Arlington National Cemetery on May 17, 2021.
Condolences may be sent to Pat at 1935 Ute Creek Drive, Longmont, CO
80504-2368.
It is with great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our
classmate, Gary Lord, on July 15, 2022, in Portland, OR.
Gary is survived by his wife, Ruth; their son, Bradford and his wife Jana; their
daughter, Kristin Gundersen and her husband Joel; their daughter, Kelleen
Deboni; their son, Reese and his wife Jennifer; and grandchildren James,
Gabrielle, Alice, Collin, Lucy, Ryan, and Penelope.
A memorial mass will be celebrated at 10 AM, July 29, 2022 at Saint Elizabeth of
Hungary Catholic Church, 4112 SW 6th Avenue Dr, Portland, OR 97239.
Gary donated his body to science research.
Condolences may be sent to Ruth at 841 SW Gaines Street, # 103, Portland, OR
97239-3062.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Gary’s memory may be sent to Knight Cancer
Research Center, South Waterfront Campus, 3485 S Bond Avenue, Portland, OR
97239.
It is with great regret an sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our
Classmate, Gary Flack, on June 6, 2022 in St. Augustine, FL, following a long,
courageous battle with kidney failure and heart disease.
Gary is survived by his wife, Eloise; sons, Sean (Stephanie) and Bary (Tina);
Nikki Holm (Michael) who he loved and considered his daughter; and
grandchildren, Emily, Shannon and Braydon Flack, and Shaelyn, Chris, Caitlyn,
and Emilia Holm.
The funeral for Gary Flack will be at 3 PM on January 22, 2024 at Arlington
National Cemetery. Attendees should report to the Admin Building NLT 2:30 PM.
There will be a reception from 5-7 PM at O’Connell’s, 112 King Street,
Alexandria, VA 22314. Please let me know by reply message NLT 15 Jan 24 if you
plan to attend.
Condolences may be sent to Eloise at 1220 Springhealth Court, St. Augustine, FL
32092-2460.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Gary’s memory may be sent to the
Superintendent's Endowment Fund. Make checks payable to West Point Association
of Graduates and mail to Gift Operations, West Point Association of Graduates,
698 Mills Road, West Point, New York 10996. In the check's memo section, please
designate Superintendent’s Endowment Fund.
It is with great regret and sorrow that I must notify of the death of our
classmate, Darwin “Punky” Richards, on June 13, 2022 in Greenville, NC, after a
courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease.
Punky is survived by his wife, Dolly; their children, Darla Rhea Richards (Angie
Slade) of Nashville, TN, Brett Richards of Seattle, WA, Bartt Richards (Angela)
of Plano, TX, Randa Richards Scott (Simon/Abby Willow) of Goldsboro, NC, Sharla
Richards Lincoln (Duffy) of Greenville, NC, Bryan Richards of Tallahassee, FL,
Brandon Richards (Faii) of Bangkok, and Kristal Richards Gauthier (Thomas) of
Greenville, NC; thirteen grandchildren, Austin, Melissa (Stephen), Zachary,
Bennett, Sarah, Samantha (Jesus), Sadie, Darwin, Maia, Roman, Chandler, Dillon
and Lillie; one great-grandchild, Laini Parker; his sister, Gloria Fields of
Winston Salem, NC, and her children, Richard and Wendy and their spouses and
children.
His Celebration of Life will take place on Friday, June 17, 2022 at St. James
United Methodist Church, 2000 E. 6th Street, Greenville, NC 27858. Visitation
will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the service at 11 a.m., immediately followed
by a military graveside service at Pinewood Memorial Park, 4150 E. 10th Street,
Greenville, NC 27858. A reception will be held following the graveside service
at St. James United Methodist Church.
Condolences may be sent to Dolly at 1953 Cherry Stone Lane, Greenville, NC
27858-9415.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Punky's memory may be made to St.
James United Methodist Church, 2000 E. 6th Street, Greenville, NC 27858.
Mike Urette tells us about the most recent adventure for
Karen and him. Given the following description of their visit to one
of the WW II final resting place for America’s honored dead,
publication of his report is timely at this time of year, the
observance of Memorial Day and Independence Day.
Mike Sends:
“Sixty
Years! When we graduated in June of ’61 we could hardly imagine what
the next sixty years would
bring let alone what we might be doing.
So, to celebrate sixty years and our sixtieth wedding anniversary,
Karen and I embarked on a two-week trip to northern France.
Photo Left:
The Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial—-one of eight WW II military
cemeteries on foreign soil
Shortly before his passing which saddened us all, Jack Zimmerman [1939-2021] with his typical concern for his A-2 family, wanted our Class to learn of A-2’s grand re-opening of their Company activities. In some ways the words that follow may now be read as Jack’s farewell posting.
Photo: Mary Frances & Hank Kenny; Sandy & Jack Zimmerman; Thomas Jefferson; Sue & Paul Devries; Bobbie& Jim Blesse
Jack’s report:
Our A-2 Company ’mates rose to the occasion to gather for another of its now traditional style mini-reunions. The venue was the highly regarded Wintergreen resort
high in the mountains of central Virginia, and by coincidence very reminiscent of the locale for earlier A-2 minis we held at Ellie & John Skillman’s [1939-2014]
mountain retreat near Roanoke.
Bobbie & Jim Blesse carried out the top-notch planning, allowing for an easy and wonderful five days.
It is with great regret and sorrow that I must notify of the death of our
classmate, Don Dreesbach, on May 11, 2022 in Orlando, FL of natural causes.
Don is survived by his wife, Cathy; their son Scott and his wife Amy; their
daughter Tracy Dillon and her husband Mark; and grandchildren Connor Dreesbach,
Tristan Anstadt, Hunter Anstadt, Madison Anstadt, Griffin Dreesbach, and Olivia
Anstadt.
Funeral services will be at West Point on a date to be determined.
Condolences may be sent to Cathy at 8741 Hildreth Avenue. Orlando, FL 32832.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Don may be sent to the charity of
your choice.
West Point Center for Oral History (COH) '61 Classmates Interviews Available
During the 60th Reunion in Orlando 22 interviews were conducted with Jerry White, Hank Kenny, Mike Hale, Jim Connolly, Ed Jones, Charlie Hansell, Gene Witherspoon, Phil Mallory, Hans Wagner, Paul Vallely, Mike and Chan Eiland, Mick Maus,
Bill Williamson, George Kopscak, Al Hokins, Todd Counts, Gary Lord, Jack Veatch, Bob Chelberg, Pat Hoy and Trish Buckner.
As these are posted I encourage you to
view them. You may learn some things about members of the Class of 1961 that you never expected. Also, take time to watch others interviews that are posted.
There are many by people other than West Point graduates that you will find inspiring.
Michie Stadium Preservation Project Spotlight: Class of 1961
A $5 million gift has been anonymously awarded to the Michie Stadium
Preservation Project in honor of the United States Military Academy Class of
1961, providing substantial momentum to the most ambitious gift-funded
construction project in the history of the Academy.
Since its official launch last month, West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) and Army West Point Athletics Association (AWPAA) have raised a
significant amount of the proposed $95 million that will support the Academy’s
vision to reconstruct the East Stands of Michie Stadium.
“This has been a great week for the Michie Stadium Preservation Project,”
Director of Athletics Mike Buddie said. “We have been so fortunate to receive
the support that we have from our community in the short time since we launched
this effort. It’s been really exciting to see our people come together to
support Michie Stadium and help us as we push to establish it as one of the
finest facilities that college athletics has to offer.”
Michie Stadium, built in 1924, has become a West Point icon and serves as the
gateway to the Academy for many Americans. Whether seen on a nationally
televised game or experienced in- person, Michie Stadium is an established
avenue for visitors to engage with, learn about and immerse themselves in West
Point culture.
The proposed reconstruction of the East Stands has integrated cadet feedback
into the reimagination process to reflect the Corps’ ideals of “Duty, Honor,
Country”. The upgrades, which include all-new premium areas for guests with the
addition of suite, loge, ledge and club- level seating, will put into action
what has already been established as one of the Superintendent’s top priorities
at the Academy.
New Recollections from the Ladies of the Class of 1961 Feature Here
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Class of 1961: What you may how read in our Class
Website are
responses to a pursuit in the making over the past few years. Aided by several
of our ‘mates and Ladies, we now will include the
Recollections from the Ladies or click
on the Recollections from the Ladies of the Class of 1961 tab in
the
left column of this page.
Time to Focus on Preparing Memorial Articles for the 2023 TAPS
Now that the suspense for the 2022 edition of TAPS has passed, it is time focus
on preparing memorial articles for the 2023 edition. As of today, memorial
articles have been published for 115 of our 227 deceased graduate classmates.
Attached is the list of the 112 without articles. The suspense for submission
of articles for the 2023 edition of TAPS is 28 February 2023.
If you would like to write a memorial article, please review the
Guidelines for
Writers of Memorial Articles. Note that the article’s author is required to obtain the next of kin’s written
approval of the article. Without approval, the article cannot be published.
However, if no relatives are found after a reasonable, good faith search, the
author may obtain approval from the graduate’s class president. I have
next-of-kin contact information for 97 of the 112.
You could also write your own memorial article to save the burden on your
survivors. At a minimum, you should complete the
Autobiographical Data in
Support of Future Memorial Articles and send it to the AOG to assist the person who will write your memorial
article.
This is a list of our Classmates that do not yet have a published TAPS article.
Memorial & Family Planning Documents
The Class of 1961 Memorial Article Project has now made the appropriate AOG Forms available for your use.
Click here to go to the Class Website article that explains what is available and has links to the documents.
AOG Announces The Rockbound Highland
HomeProgram Welcoming Grads Home
Who
says you can’t go home again? For 47 months, West Point was
your home—through Beast Barracks, Mess Hall meals, clubs and team experiences,
competitions on the fields of friendly strife, the Indoor Obstacle Course,
graduation, and even the gloom period.
Most alumni love to visit their alma maters, and West Point
graduates are certainly no exception. However, because the Academy is on an
active-duty Army post, gaining access and touring West Point present unique
challenges.
To enhance services for the Long Gray Line, the West Point
Association of Graduates has launched The Rockbound Highland HomeProgram, a new program ensuring that every graduate coming back
home to the Academy is welcomed in the special way that family should be.
The Rockbound Highland Home Program was
created exclusively for USMA graduates and is designed to assist you in
navigating post security procedures, offer special access to select MWR (Morale,
Welfare, and Recreation) facilities and services, and provide “insider” tours
for you and your guests. For information on how to support the Rockbound
Highland Home Program and other WPAOG initiatives,
click here.
For more information on each aspect of this program, please
click below or contact:
Program Coordinator: Lindsey Eisenlohr,
Phone: 845.446.1622
Email at
RockboundHighlandHome@wpaog.org
Grad Insider Tour
The exclusive
Rockbound Highland Home Grad Insider Tour includes a series of tour
stops not available to the public and allows graduates to share unique
experiences of West Point with their families and guests.
Depending on the chosen tour time, you could have the opportunity to visit: the
Cadet Mess in Washington Hall, Jefferson Library, Thayer Award Room, Army Sports
Hall of Fame in Kenna Hall/Kimsey Center, Arvin Cadet Physical Development
Center (ACPDC), or the Cadet Uniform Factory.
Please
LOGIN
to view the link for the Rockbound Highland Home Reservation site.
You must be a graduate to access the site.
Grad Insider Tours
Grad Insider Tours will be conducted twice a day Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. and
must be reserved at least three days in advance. Schedule of home football
Fridays varies. Please allow two to two-and-a-half hours for the tour.
Please also be prepared to walk approximately two miles and maneuver stairs.
WPAOG will provide transportation for the Grad Insider Tour,
which will begin and conclude at Herbert Hall (698 Mills Road). Vehicle size and
exclusive arrangements with USMA restrict tour size to 10 participants. A fee of
$25 per graduate and $10 per guest will be collected when reserving your spot on
a Grad Insider Tour.
Please Note: At least one graduate ticket must be purchased for your group. A graduate MUST
be present in your group on your tour. Tours are for graduates' leisure purposes
only.
For information on how to support the Rockbound Highland Home Program and other WPAOG initiatives,
click here.
Should You Be Enrolled Into The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor - Consider
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, located in New
Windsor NY, commemorates Purple Heart recipients through its Roll of Honor, a
database of Purple Heart recipients representing all wars for which the award
has been available. All enrollments are done voluntarily and are made by
recipients, their families or friends. There is no comprehensive list of
recipients maintained by the US Government.
The Roll of Honor is viewable both in the Hall of Honor and
on-line. The version that is viewable in the Hall allows for a total of six
screens per recipient. Profiles can contain pictures as well as written
narratives of the experience of the recipient. The on-line version is an
abbreviated, single page commemoration for each recipient and can be viewed from
any computer via the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor website,
www.thepurpleheart.com
According to information gathered from the 2010 Register of
Graduates and the 50th Anniversary Yearbook questionnaires, at least 50
classmates have received 64 awards of the Purple Heart. I have compared this
information with that on the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor website and
believe that only 5 classmates are included in the current Roll of Honor.
If you are a Purple Heart recipient, I encourage you to complete and submit the necessary enrollment information that can be found at
www.thepurpleheart.com/enrollment.
50th Reunion Class Gift Presentation Given to the Center for Oral History
The West Point Center for Oral History is dedicated to
archiving the story of the American soldier, in both war and peace. It will
record the professional experiences of West Point graduates and other
accomplished soldiers, along with others who have had a prominent role in
shaping history, such as former Secretaries of Defense and State, Congressmen,
and Senators.
Established in Spring 2005 and supported by leadership
funding from the Francis Sehn Family and the Class of 1961 and Class of 1967.
During the Class of 1961 50th Reunion in 2011 the Center for Oral History was
presented a gift of $1,000,000.
40th Reunion Class Gift of Reconciliation Plaza at West Point Described on Web Site
The Historical Marker Database is a web site providing information about many national monuments. Reconciliation Plaza, our Class Gift to West Point, is described in great detail.
The web site is well worth viewing at:www.hmdb.org/marker.asp marker=35359
June Week 1961 and Related Activities from July 1961 Assembly Now Available Online
The USMA Library Archives office is putting ASSEMBLY Magazine and
various other historical reports on a web site that allows you to access and download articles and information. Copies of
ASSEMBLY from 1942-1993 are currently available.
Classmates can send their remembrances, comments, pictures to
Sam Weiss
and they will be edited for inclusion with the Last Roll Call Tribute for that person.
Current Profiles
In order to create a “Current Profile” for every member of the class, graduates and former members of 1961, we
need your input. If you are interested in participating, email your “vita” information to Sam Weiss
with photos in "jpg" format, if you can. If your profile is already online, check to make sure it is up-to-date and send us any changes or additions.
Prior
Features
In order to keep this page more current with items of interest to the Class, after a reasonable length of time items will be moved to the
PRIOR FEATURES Page (click here to go to them).
If you have any announcements of interest to other Classmates, comments, questions, or suggestions, please
e-mail them to Sam Weiss.
Number of times this page has been accessed since
4/09/2023
DISCLAIMER: This
private organization is a non-Federal entity organized by graduates of the
United States Military Academy. Non-Federal entities may not be endorsed by
the United States Army or the Department of Defense. As such, the views of
this private organization are not to be considered as the official views of
the United States Military Academy.
WEST POINT
Long ago when this Country was new Our forefathers said here’s what we must do.
We must find a place where young men can be Trained to serve this great country.
West Point was chosen as the place Where they learned to serve with honor and grace.
They were taught to serve, and only then Were they sent to become leaders of men.
Duty, Honor, Country for all time The world is encircled by The Long Gray Line.
By Joan Seibert in honor of the Class of 1961 50th Reunion