Here in Connecticut we just got hit with a late March snowstorm, but luckily it was sunny and clear March 15, so Cub Schlatter could land his last flight before retiring (March 17 was the official ceremony) on the CGA parade field and join us all for lunch. It was great fun; as was the impromptu dinner with Molly (Kriz) Riordan who came up in February to speak at the CGA celebration of Women and Girls in Sports Day. If you're tired of seeing and hearing about the New London crowd (all retirees now except Vince), send us your news and photos!

Kyle, Jean, Vince, Cub, Keith, Jim, and Pat

Jean, Jim, Keith, Molly, Mike, and Vince

Terry Gilbreath continues to be a great source of class info. "I had sent an e-mail to Brian (Musselman) about a week ago asking him about his job as CO, Response Boat Medium Project Office in Mississippi and got the below e-mail from him and then a subsequent follow up e-mail. As you can read, he was diagnosed with a rare Leukemia. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers."

"Hope everyone is doing well. If you are ever in Morgan City (Okay stop laughing, no one is ever just passing through Morgan City), look me up. The crawfish are in season and the fishing is great. - Terry Gilbreath"

From Brian's first e-mail to Terry:
"I put in my retirement letter a month after the selection board, and have lined up a great job with a small engineering firm in Long Beach, MS. My retirement was scheduled for May 1, but over the holidays I was diagnosed with leukemia and have since requested an amendment to my retirement orders, pending my recovery and remission."

"All is reasonably well. I've completed a nine-day chemotherapy marathon three weeks ago, and seem to be recovering by the numbers. Right now I'm at home for at least a month on a quasi-quarantine status while my blood chemistry rebuilds and I pass the critical susceptibility stages for virus and infections. It's pretty boring, but I know I am lucky. I heard that Rich Gromlich was also recently diagnosed with cancer, but maybe in considerable more danger than I am."
And the follow-up (February 17):
" Terry - I still live in Slidell, about 30 miles east of NOLA. My pending job is about another 40 miles to the east in MS, but the commute is a breeze - much easier than working in downtown NOLA or one of the local shipyards. My oldest daughter is a freshman at LSU so we're content to stay here a while. In fact, I've been here so long I'm practically a local..."

"Lot's of folks know about the cancer thing; I sent an e-mail to the naval engineering community and close friends shortly after I knew what was happening. Believe me - the initial diagnosis was for something much worse, so getting the word about leukemia (mine is a rare type is called hairy cell leukemia) was something of a relief. Feel free to pass along."

"The good news is that the worst is behind me. Strangely enough, the disease was discovered during my retirement physical - so I think we got an early start on the treatment, which weighs in my favor."

"Talk to you later, and thanks for the concern. - Brian"