MARINERThe ALUMNI MAGAZINE of MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY — ISSUE 1 · 2021 — A World Imagined, A World Bettered She went to sea to see the world. Helping others became her mission. Bowdoin Turns A century of training,100 promoting science, cultural awareness, and adventure. Launches First Space Force Mission Alumnus plays key role in national defense program. Maureen Jones-Higgins ’87 CONTENTS 14 A World Imagined, A World Bettered Maureen Jones-Higgins ‘87 went to sea to see the world. Helping others became her mission. 20 Bowdoin Turns 100 A century of training, promoting science, cultural awareness, and adventure. 28 Launches First Space Force Mission Marcus McInnis ’75 plays a key role in national defense program. DEPARTMENTS 5 President’s Watch Right Course Ahead 6 Alumni President’s Message Welcome Class of ’21, and alumni program initiatives, from advocacy to travel. 7 Campus Currents Adapting for the Future, Managing MMA Finances, Cruise Training Plan, New Nest, Spring Semester Update, Ocean Studies Seminars, Back to Competition, Welding Lab Improvements, and New Fire Tower for CPMP. 33 Alumni News Alumni and USNS Savanna, Yacht Donation Successes, Women’s Basketball Alumnae Give 100%, Sharing Experience, TSSOM’s New Master, Victory Chimes. 37 Class Notes From a Class of ‘45 grad celebrating his 95th birthday to a 2020 alumnae with plans for a Foreign Service career, updates and achievements from classmates. 42 Eight Bells Notice of Deceased Mariners On the Cover: Maureen Jones-Higgins ’87 stands on the North Carolina shore near her home. Her aid work has taken her to ports and shores around the world. Photograph by Fred Beaujeu-Dufour 2 MARINER 2021 · ISSUE 1 MARINER.MAINEMARITIME.EDU 3 Scout Spots Spies HARVARD HODGKINS, a 17-year-old Boy Scout, had no idea a German submarine (U-1230) had lurked into Mount Desert’s Frenchman’s Bay and dispersed two spies who he later passed along the road on his way home from a dance on a snowy winter night in 1944. Hodgkins’s role in their apprehension would change his life. “Back then, strangers were immediately recognized as being from somewhere other than Maine,” wrote Tom Seymour for the Fisherman’s Voice. “The two spies, Erich Gimpel and William Colepaugh, were poorly suited to carry out their sham. Both men wore light dress clothing, totally unsuitable for being outside in a Maine winter. And both men carried heavy, money-filled baggage, another potential tipoff.” Hodgkins doubled back and followed the men’s tracks in the snow to the shore, where he found an empty rubber raft in the water. The next day, he told his father who contacted the FBI. The tip along with others led to the capture of the spies in New York City, a full scholarship at MMA for Hodgkins who later graduated in 1947, and, perhaps best for him at the time, meetings with the famed boxer Joe Lewis and baseball legend Babe Ruth who gave him a signed bat. Photo: thehistoryplace.com 2 MARINER 2021 · ISSUE 1 MARINER.MAINEMARITIME.EDU 3 MMA BOARD OF TRUSTEES EARLE A. CIANCHETTE ’77 ANNE DEVINE HON. W. TOM SAWYER, JR. CHAIR Portland, Maine Dedham, Maine Saco, Maine UNUM Corporation Sawyer Environmental Services AZcO, Inc. Retired President & CEO (Ret.) Senior Vice President TED DEY ROBERT SOMERVILLE ‘65 JASON ONEY ‘96 Portland, Maine Ft. Lauderdale, Florida VICE CHAIR RBC Wealth Management American Bureau of Shipping Falmouth, Maine Vice President – Financial Advisor Chairman (Ret.) Strategic Maintenance Solutions President & CEO GREGORY S. FRYER HOPE THOMAS ’22 Cumberland, Maine Orrington, Maine MILES UNOBSKY THEEMAN Verrill Dana, LLP TREASURER Partner ARTHUR “KITT” WATSON Bangor, Maine New Canaan, Connecticut Northern Light Healthcare (Ret.) CAPT. WENDY MORRISON ‘85 Watson Enterprises Incorporated Dickinson, Texas President & CEO Galveston Texas City Pilots MORTEN ARNTZEN Captain J. DOUGLAS WELLINGTON, J.D., LL.M. Fairfield, Connecticut Castine, Maine Team Tankers International, Ltd. CAPT. ROBERT J. PEACOCK II ‘71 Husson University Executive Chairman Eastport, Maine Associate Professor Quoddy Pilots, USA CAROLYN BRODSKY Captain & Pilot Emeriti: Windham, Maine WILLIAM C. BULLOCK, JR., WARD I. GRAFFAM, Sterling Rope Company ESQ, RICHARD J. GROSH, WILLIAM E. HAGGETT, President (Ret.) WALTER E. TRAVIS MARINER Magazine STAFF ADMINISTRATION MANAGING EDITOR PRESIDENT Billy R. Sims | [email protected] | 207-326-2224 Dr. William J. Brennan ART DIRECTOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS & PROVOST Deanna Yocom | [email protected] Dr. Keith M. Williamson COPY EDITORS V. P. FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Karen Cukierski & Molly McGrath Christopher J. Haley, MBA WEB PRODUCTION V. P. FOR FINANCIAL & INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES Bryan Wolf | [email protected] Richard Rosen ADVERTISING INQUIRIES V. P. FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS & ENROLLMENT [email protected] MANAGEMENT Postmaster: Please send change of address notice to Alumni Relations, Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, ME 04420. Dr. Elizabeth True Sent free of charge to all MMA alumni. Printed by Creasey Printing Services Inc. DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS Submissions may be edited for length. Jeff Wright | [email protected] | 207-326-2337 Opinions are those of the authors, and no material may be republished without the editor’s written consent. 4 MARINER 2021 · ISSUE 1 MARINER.MAINEMARITIME.EDU 5 MMA PRESIDENT’S WATCH Right Course Ahead WHEN I PREPARED my remarks for the winter subsequent part of this cruise will occur following edition of Mariner, we were planning to hold the Fall 2021 term. a Spring 2021 term on the Castine campus Multiple cruises are set for Bowdoin from April preceded by two weeks of remote instruction. - August. The Academy has also been working with We have succeeded with this plan, and as I write shipping companies for billets aboard commercial these words, we are 75% through our face-to-face vessels. We have two blocks of time for students instruction. to continue to meet the sea time expectations MMA PRESIDENT There are countless people to thank for their required by the USCG. This will have many of our Dr. William J. Brennan commitment to MMA’s mission of providing students participating in both cruise and cadet a quality education for our students. It was a shipping this summer. community effort. We have many students who Fall classes will commence August 23 with served as examples for others, enabling us to work in-person instruction. The semester will again through a very challenging semester with a focus on be condensed from 14 weeks to 12, giving us the s a f e t y a n d fl e x i b i l i t y. flexibility to offer sea time I am pleased to and co-ops to those students report we will be who will require it. We plan hosting an in-person “Many students served to be back on track following commencement for as examples for others, this fall semester. the Class of 2021 in As I reflect upon this past early April. We want enabling us to work year, I am mindful of the to recognize the hard through a challenging depth of despair so many work and sacrifice around the world feel for of this class and the semester.” the loss of loved ones, and faculty, and end their I share their grief. But I am college experience comforted knowing that, as as close to normal as the vaccine becomes more we can. readily available and the number of cases continues As we prepare to move forward, much will to decline, we will be on the right course for our look the same while being different. Given the students in early 2022. There is no doubt that many condensed semester from 14 weeks to 12, final aspects of our operation and business will never exams will be concluded on April 14. We did this look the same. But the spirit that thrives here is one in order to give our Regimental students the time of dedication to our students and our mission, and needed to “catch-up” with their sea time. To that it is unwavering. We will emerge from this challenge end, Cruise A on TSSOM will commence April strengthened and more resilient. We are Mariners 17 for 37 days. This will include the 1/C and 3/C forever. We are the keepers of this heritage. I am students who were unable to sail last summer, proud of who we are, our people, our students, thus it will be the last training evolution for our our community. I am proud of Maine Maritime unlimited license seniors. May 23 will be the Academy. end of Cruise A, and US Coast Guard exams will follow on May 24-28 for those seniors. Cruise B will commence on July 8 following a quarantine period. The second cruise will conclude on August 13 and have aboard our 2/C and 4/C students. A 4 MARINER 2021 · ISSUE 1 MARINER.MAINEMARITIME.EDU 5 ALUMNI PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Back in Action WHILE MANY CLASSES have withstood their own challenges, certainly those the class of 2021 faced ALUMNI ASSOCIATION were unique. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Although we were not able to host the Senior Alumni Banquet, with Jeff Wright and Karen Cukierski’s PRESIDENT leadership and efforts, we were able to welcome the newest alumni in a special CAPT. WILLIAM S. FULL II ’76 Cumberland Center, ME event at the Wyman House in late March. I know that all current alumni VICE PRESIDENT look forward to meeting new graduates FRANK J. TEPEDINO, ESQ. ‘58 in person at future events. San Diego, CA Welcome The MMA Alumni family is one of strong bonds and equally strong TREASURER Class of ’21, our connections. We hope all alumni reach CHARLES A. (CAL) LECHMAN ’65 Harpswell, ME newest alumni! out to us for assistance and guidance as you navigate your way through challenges and opportunities.