Chapter Oktoberfest Celebration

We are sad to report the deaths of two of our members.

Douglas Cutter, ’64, died on 29 December 2023.
Doug was a member of USNAAAA before his move to Florida a few years ago. Doug served two tours of duty aboard the USS Kitty Hawk flying the A4 Skyhawk with the VA-144 Roadrunner squadron for 201 missions.  Doug was a pilot and a flight instructor for Delta Airlines for many years.
A memorial service for Doug will be held on Saturday, February 3. 2024, 11;00 am Johnson Ferry Baptist Church Chapel.   955 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, Georgia.

Will Wood, ’66 died on 15 January 2024.  Will had an outstanding 25-year Navy career, serving on four nuclear submarines.  He commanded USS Silversides for four years.  Will was Secretary of USNAAAA shortly after his move to Atlanta in 1995.  A memorial service was held for Will at Dunwoody Baptist Church on 19 January.  Military honors were rendered, followed by inurnment in the church Columbarium.

Those of us who knew these two outstanding alumni are proud to have served with them.

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The May 5th Chapter Luncheon was at a new location: HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern Dunwoody/Perimeter

Bill Donges gave the Atlanta alumni group a presentation about his recent visit to the yard in March 2023. Bill took 16 members of the Innovation Academy fencing team to Navy to receive lessons from Hall of Fame fencer Ed Donofrio 73 and to scrimmage the Navy men’s and women’s team. It was truly a wonderful experience for his team. At Navy the team received a presentation and discussion with 2^nd classmen in the cyber security program, an admissions presentation, a yard tour and ate in King Hall one night with the Navy team. None of the team knew about the military before the team except Bill’s granddaughter, Anna. After the 3 day visit 2 men and 1 woman expressed an interest in Navy and are planning to sign up for next year’s summer camp. The team walked the streets in Annapolis and ate breakfast downtown. The team fenced in Dahlgren Hall on Saturday and the Alumni team fenced the Navy team on Sunday.

Bill mentioned that all the mids that met with his team were outstanding people. Very polite and intelligent. He was very impressed with the caliber of midshipmen there today. He pointed out a few differences…in King Hall there is a “grab and go” food service where you can pick up your food and eat in the Hall or take it back to your room. There are noon formations and march ins to eat but breakfasts and dinners seem to be optional…no formations and marching to the mess hall. There is also a nice coffee shop in the yard “1845 Coffee” were the officers and mids can get a latte before class. He also pointed out that dating other mids is allowed.

The mids Bill spoke with seemed very focused on their academics and quite mature about their service. It was a very eye opening visit for Bill’s fencing team. Innovation Academy is a new STEM high school in Alpharetta, GA just north of Atlanta. His team has 77 members and is unofficially the largest fencing team in the US.

Marilyn McCallum   1938-2022

We are very sad to report that Marilyn McCallum (widow of Carl McCallum, ’60) passed away peacefully in her home on Sunday, November 6th.  Carl was the instigator of the original Lobsterfest, and Marilyn was totally involved in that function for many years.  She was the mother of four sons each a year apart.  We are very grateful for all that Marilyn and Carl did for USNAAAA.