Chi Phi Mu Alumni Old Guard

Five of the committee made a dry run to the Submarine Museum and to Mystic Seaport our destinations for Wednesday. We had a great time and found both venues to be even better than expected. It's going to be a great day. Here are a few photos.

We'll be having dinner at Latitude where the food is delicious.

Here is the letter that just went out to those who have shown an interest in the reunion. It's certainly not too late to get on board.

On Thursday you will get a guided tour of the Mark Twain House https://www.marktwainhouse.org/

Welcome to the Mark Twain House & Museum - Home

One of our activities will be a visit to the Groton Submarine Museum. Check it out at http://www.ussnautilus.org/

Submarine Force Library & Museum: Submarine History, Gifts & Memorabilia

Here is Bob Bozzone's report on the most recent reunion:
MU CHAPTER CHI PHI REUNION 2016 - MAY 17th TO MAY 20, 2016

Another wonderful 4 day event bringing together 30 seniors (brothers and their gals), this time to the Mid-Hudson Valley\Poughkeepsie area, home of Vassar and Marist colleges.

The event was hosted by Carsten Sibbern (Sib) ’57 and his wife, Rosemary; they did an outstanding job of finding occasionally ‘lost’ brothers (thanks to cell phones and GPS’s) and obtaining a new vessel when the company that we were originally contracted with, went bankrupt. Some brothers came from far away including Florida and New Mexico. Most folks arrived on Tuesday afternoon and after checking in at the Inn & Suites at the Falls, went directly to the reception suite. At lot of hugs and handshakes were exchanged and some refreshments were consumed. Dinner for all was at a local place, the Hobnobbin’ Pub.

4 tours in one day; but our group could handle it. The first on Wednesday was at Eleanor Roosevelt’s home where she lived after FDRs passing. It was called Val-Kill, a national historic site. We saw a short video and were given a tour by a forest ranger who showed us all around the house and explained about Mrs. Roosevelt’s activities with the UN after WWII. The second was at the nearby Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, also a national historic site. The third tour included FDR’s home, Springwood, and gravesite. Here is where he loved to be, where he entertained friends and public figures, and here is where he raised his large family. The fourth tour was at the nearby CIA (Culinary Institute of America). At the CIA were greeted by students who explained much about the curriculum and gave us tours of the bakeries and kitchens where pastries and chocolates were prepared. With a quick stop at the bookstore and the Apple Bakery, we were ready for dinner. The Italian Restorante Caterina De’ Medici presented the group with a customized menu for the Chi Phi Ancient Brotherhood Mu Chapter; the wines and dinner were superb.

On Thursday, May 19th we boarded the 100’ two deck luxury yacht Marika for a 2 hour cruise; the weather was perfect. Later, some couples had lunch on the outside patio at the Ice House. A few brave souls took the elevator up 212 feet and strolled the 1.5 mile foot bridge over the Hudson River.

Thursday night was our ‘formal’ dinner at Shadows on the Hudson and there, some memories and stories were told. 50 year pins were awarded to brothers Fred Kopper ’64 and Roger Kellman ’70. Our plans for the next reunion in the Fall of 2017 will be in Connecticut, perhaps the Hartford or Mystic area - Tuesday thru Friday - Exact dates TBD.

Received a nice note from Steve Demartino.

Roger,

I’m certainly interested in the reunion, but like all of us cannot commit to anything 9 months away. As the time gets closer, life becomes clearer.

Now what have I been doing since I left Green Gate and Stevens:

I had to leave midway in my Junior year- 1967 - due to health (I had respiratory problems in Hoboken for some reason that cleared up when I went home) and consequent financial reasons. I continued my Engineering studies at Newark College of Engineering in the evening while working during the day, completing my BSChE in 1973.

I joined Air Products and Chemicals the same year as a Process Engineer. I remained there my entire career, retiring in 2010 as the Technology Manager for Hydrogen and Syngas applications. During that time I designed hydrogen plants in the US, Europe and Asia, and was able to travel to four continents.

I married in 1969 – part of the reason that I was unable to continue my studies full time – and had two children. That marriage dissolved in 1989 and I remarried in 1995 to my current wife. This one looks like a keeper!

My passion is Formula 1 racing. I’ve been to 20 or so races in 6 countries and to show my commitment have flown to Australia twice for a race weekend and plan to do so again next year.

Anyway, that’s my life in precis, we can discuss everybody’s when/if I attend the reunion.

Yours in Chi Phi

Steve DiMartino

Here is the list of the past seven reunions:

Spring 2007 Williamsburg VA
Fall 2008 Nashville TN
Spring 2010 Charleston SC
Fall 2011 ? Florida
Spring 2013 Louisville TN
Fall 2014 Asheville NC
Spring 2016 Poughkeepsie NY

Here is a note received from Joe Finnerty, '50 His pictures will be posted too.

Roger,

Thanks for letting me know of the upcoming Mu reunion. I attended a few of them in the past, the last one at Cape May, NJ some years ago.

I regret I will not be able to attend this one: My limited mobility makes it impossible for me to do any traveling or sightseeing. By the time of the event I will have turned 90.

My Mu life began years before I enrolled at Stevens in July 1944. Hoboken is my birth city and I grew up playing on Eighth Street in front of the chapter house. And because I worked in Manhattan and continued to live around the corner after graduating in 1950, I managed to attend many Saturday night Mu parties until I moved to California in 1954. This allowed me to become acquainted with many Brothers over a very long time span.

Pasted below are some pictures I took years ago showing my Stevens campus boyhood playground across the street from Mu. Perhaps you could show them at the reunion dinner. You might encourage other attendees to share some of their related pictures.

I never roomed at the house, but spent many a night sleeping on a couch in front of the gas fireplace.

I hope my good friends, Robert Neill and Alan Donaldson, both class of '51, attend. They will vouch that I am still devoted to the ideals of Mu Chi Phi. Nothing pleased me more in life than being elected Alpha in my senior year.

Fraternally Yours,

Joe Finnerty '50

8207 E, Horseshoe Ln.
Scottsdale, AZ 85250
480-948-9972
[email protected]

Here is your invitation to the 2017 Mu Alumni Old Guard Reunion

2017 Boat trip on the Hudson River.