CLASS
of 1953 SHIPMATE Jan-Feb 2022
Executive Committee
Chris Zirps (5),
“I thank you all for agreeing to continue in year 2022 your duties on the Class
of 1953 Executive Committee. [Al Glazier (15) Exec Pres, Art Bivens (22)
Admin Pres, Darrell Dempster (16), Treasurer, Pete Walker (7), Secretary,
Chuck Fellows (20), member, Earl Griggs (13), member]. We should
all look forward to a COVID free 2022 and the continuation of our annual
meetings and events.”
Passing’s
Andrew
G. Merget, CAPT,
USN (Ret) (14), died Sept 25, 2020 in Bothell, WA.
Andy spent 28 years of active as active duty as a Surface Warfare Officer.
Served six tours on six tours on destroyer types, a Vietnam tour, and several
shore duty assignments including Naval War College. He retired in 1982 and
settled in the Seattle area. He married Lucille in 1962. Survivors include
Lucille and two sons….*
Melvin
Sage Bassett, CDR, USN (Ret)
(9) died August 16, 2021 in Silver Spring, MD. Sage
completed flight training in 1955. Flew the fat Spad
off the Randolph and Saratoga during his first sea tour. Then back to USNA as a SEAMO
Prof. Great duty. Back to the Fleet and Med cruise in the Sara. Next a
staff with CINCLANTFLT. Thence an instructor tour in Cougars. Then PG School at
Monterey. My final tour was flying Convairs for CNO
out of Andrews AFB. After retirement in ’79, joined Flight Safety International
as a Simulator Instructor. His wife, Lenore, is deceased. His daughter, Carolyn
Banks, has connected with us….*
Clifford
C. Thomas Jr. (21) died
September 23, 2021 in Columbia, SC. After graduation,
Cliff spent a year in USS Saipan before entering Flight Training. He received
his wings in 1955, was assigned to VF-71 at Quonset Point, RI flying the F2H-4
Banshee. He resigned from active duty in 1959, and the next seven years worked
for brokerage firms in New York and Connecticut. During the next 20 years he
studied computer programming, lived in Hilton Head Island
and ended in Columbia, SC where he worked with Salomon, Smith Barney for ten
years before retiring in 2001. Cliff’s wife, Marie,
died several years ago. They had one daughter, two
sons, five grandchildren and one great-grand child….*
Howard
J. Larson, CDR, USNR (Ret) (24) died September 21, 2021 in Hilton Head Island, SC. Howard first served in a
destroyer, then attended Submarine School and Nuclear Power Training School and
served in the USS Halibut (SSG(N)-587. He was released from active duty
in 1961, remained in the Naval Reserve. In the private sector Howard continued
working in the nuclear industry and eventually retired from the U.S. Nuclear
Energy Commission. Howard is survived by his wife Claire, and with their blended family, 5 children, 9
grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a stepson,
granddaughter and great-daughter…..*
B.
Shirley Paulsen, wife of CDR Raymond E. Paulsen, USN (Ret) (19), died September 25, 2021 in Deland, FL. Shirley was the second wife of Raymond for
22 blessed years. Survivors include Raymond, and her blended family….*
Nicholas
Wallner (24)
died September 25, 2021 in Portland, OR. Nick served
in the USAF and flew as a fighter pilot, in a F-86 Sabre jet. After serving tours
of duty in Japan and Northern California he resigned from the USAF. He married
Sally Sullivan and they had four children. Nick then graduated with an MBA from
U. Southern Cal. He then worked in the field of mergers and acquisitions for
over 50 years, where he ultimately served as a President and CEO of several
major conglomerates. Survivors include three children, five grandchildren,
three great- grandchildren, and his second wife, Jeanette Guiloff.
Sally preceded Nick in death…*
Sara
Zimolzak, widow
of COL Frank Zimolzak, USMC
(Ret) (3), died October 2, 2021 in Ponte Vedra, FL. They were happily married for 38 years prior to
his death in 1993. She was at her home and surrounding by her family when she
peacefully passed. Sara was born in Pelham, GA. She grew up Orlando, FL and
attended Florida State College for Women (now FSU). She moved to Washington,
D.C. where she met Frank. They were married at the Naval Academy Chapel in
1955. While Frank was stationed at the Naval Academy, as senior Marine, Sara
worked with the Chapel Altar Guild and assisted with the numerous weddings
during the 3-year tour. Sara is survived by 2 married daughters, 4
grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. She will be interned with Frank at the
Naval Academy Columbarium.
Eugene
C. Matheson, LCDR USN (Ret)
(8) died October 26, 2021 in Ashburn, VA. Gene was the
oldest member of our Class. Gene’s first assignments after graduation was in
USS Lewis Hancock (DSD-675). Destroyer Division-staff on USS McGowan
(DD-678), Navigator in USS Hermitage (LSD-34), A shore tour Recruiting
in Oklahoma City, two more surface ship tours, first of Chief Engineer in USS Arnold
J. Isbell (DD-869) and as XO in USS Shadwell (LSD-154). After
Headquarters Washington, returned to sea as XO in USS Allagash (AO-97). There
was a several shore tours including NATO Rep to SAC in Omaha. And final
assignment at Navy Receiving Station, Philadelphia as Personnel Officer. After
retiring to Navy in 1973 he held various sales positions and 21 years retiring
again. Survivors include his wife, Ruth,
5 children, and 2 grandchildren ….*
*See 50th Year
Legacy Book
Carl
Trost’s Memorial
Chris Zirps
sent this paragraph for the SHIPMATE. “The Memorial Service for Carl Trost was held at the Academy Chapel on 20 September 2021. Carl
was memorialized by his children, grandchildren, the Superintendent, and Navy retirees.
Earl Griggs and Chuck Fellows spoke on remembrances for our Class of 1953. Other
Class of 1953 attendees were Mary Lou Griggs, Alix Fellows and son Andy, George
Barthelenghi, Patricia Maher, Dorothy Hoch, Judy Ostronic and son Tom. Carl was a
big part of our Class and will be missed by all.”
Earl Griggs remembrance comments:
“I served with Carl on the USS
Scorpion where I had been since shipbuilding days at Electric Boat and
was then a department head. Carl was Scorpion’s third Executive Officer. He was
soon the Exec and of course, the ship excelled.
Carl had a piercing intellect
and near-perfect memory. He admitted he could remember things he is interested
in, and fortunately he was interested in a lot of things!
The New York Times called
Carl a military leader who avoided the public spotlight and tended to measure success
by how few times his name was mentioned in the media.
It is well known that Carl
was first in everything (except a grade school he skipped) Our CNO has epitomized
Carl for his gracious spirit, stout heart, and life of selfless service to
others, his family and his country.
I have no doubt that Carl
was greeted by the Heavenly Angels caroling “Well Done, Thou Good and Faithful
Servant”
Chuck Fellows remembrance comments:
“I am a good friend of Carl,
Pauline and their wonderful family. As Carl began and continued his own Star
Trek, he did not leave his close friends in his wake. Those included some of we
smoke eating, battery acid drinking, work hard and play hard, diesel boat
sailors.
I remember after an
Army/Navy game, walking with Carl back to the Army Chief of Staff’s train car,
for Carl to present him with the traditional Naval Academy bathrobe, after
losing to Army. I was struck by the silence in the Army car compared to the noisy
Navy car. All the Army officers were hunkered down, in their briefcase
foxholes, working away. On the way back to our Navy car, we wondered, what would
it be like in there had they lost? We hated to lose an Army/Navy game, but as I
am sure you know, the Navy always won the party.
I worked for Carl on ComSubLant staff when he was N1 and I was N10, Force
Personnel Officer. He essentially said ‘You got it. Keep the Force fully manned.’
No micromanagement. He was a perfect boss.
On Veterans Day last year
Adm. Gilday sent a message to the entire naval
establishment citing the personal qualities that members of that organization
should have. He identified Carl by name as possessing each of those qualities and
asked all to emulate him, for the good of themselves and the United States
Navy.
As we know, Carl had many firsts.
At the top of the list was his family. Carl openly demonstrated his love for
Pauline, and his love for, and great pride in each of their children, wives,
husbands, and grandchildren.
In summary, Carl epitomized
the appellation “An Officer and a Gentleman”
Mail
Bag
Darrell Dempster (16) “attended all the home football games this year, Navy has played some good football vs Houston, but they cannot put it all together at any one time. Our parking is different. NAAA has taken away our tailgate area. It is now for the Admiral’s Club. I faked it and parked there three times. The other side of the stadium from where our seats are. This worked fine with me. I ride in a battery operated ‘Zommer’ chair. It works great. Darrell wanted us to know that ‘I am the Last Man Standing (or sitting)”(Photo to be supplied).
Jim Westermeier (24) sent a newspaper piece about himself who became an actor and enacted James Saner, the 11th sheriff in Kendall County in Texas, who kept law and order during the early 20th century. Jim visited with guests and talked about his character and his terms as sheriff. There was a dozen of other actors who portrayed deceased characters, other sheriffs, noted pioneers, from the Kendall County Genealogy Society.
Marcy and Art are still in the
Greenspring retirement community this Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 2021. We
are both still walking at 92 years old. We were able to go to dining restaurants
without face masks and bring family members. Our older daughter Chrissy and her
daughter Elizabeth came to dine with us. We are all vaccinated including
booster shots for Marcy and me, Art. Also, Marcy and I had our 67th
wedding anniversary November 27, 2021. Finally, my deadline date is November
29, 2021, for SHIPMATE Jan-Feb 2022…Happy New Year!....ACB
Photo Captions: (53#1)
Darrell Dempster
(53#2) Jim Westermeier