Kickoff the Season with ’85

Posted on 08/30/2017 by 1985

Sent 8/30/2017

Classmates,

Navy Football kicks off the season with the first game against FAU this Saturday at 8:00 EST on ESPNU. We will kick off the tailgate season in Annapolis on Saturday September 9th against Tulane at 11:30 am at NMCS in our usual Tailgate spot. This is a catered tailgate and I have asked for those attending to please email or text me with RSVP. If you have not, please do so which allows me to order the correct amount of food for those attending. As always, I will ask all of you attending to drop around $25 in the donation box to cover food, beer and wine which we are providing (That is a cheap afternoon to say the least!). We will be introducing our updated tailgate experience with the new Class of ’85 tent, trailer and TV system. Beer on tap will be Beat Army Lager provided by classmate Dave Marquis. If you are in town that weekend, please stop by and say hi to Dave and Carolyn at the Chesapeake Brewing Company located at 114 West Street Annapolis. Good food and brews on tap….the Class of ’85 Bar!

I want to once again thank and congratulate the Class of ’85 Officers:

Class President: Bob Smith robertsmith5@att.net Cell: 502-432-6185
Class VP: Stephen Pimpo sjpimpo@comcast.net
Class Treasurer: William Ridings battleshipbill64@yahoo.com
Class Corresponding Secretary: Victor Otero 85shipmate@gmail.com
Class IT Secretary: Angela Orlando angela.orlando@1985.usna.com

We will be working hard to keep the GREAT Class of ’85 tops across the board. Angela has updated our class website, so please favorite our site: http://1985.usnaclasses.net. I will continue to use this site as a tool to keep all of you informed on all things ’85. This includes information about tailgates and class gatherings. For example, we have the registration link for the Class of ’85 weekend in San Diego in 2018 for the Notre Dame game. I will use our class site for registrations for tailgates to help us get accurate head counts. Please take a minute to visit our site and update yourself on class happenings. Going forward, I will use less emails and more communication on Facebook and via the class website (hint!). For the Tulane game, still contact me. But going forward we will have sign up information for our home tailgates on the class site. Looking ahead, we will do a “Bring your favorite Fried Bird” (and sides) for the Air Force game on October 7 when we roast the Falcons; and the Homecoming game will be fully catered on October 21st. We have purchased a grill and will debut that at the Cincinnati game on Sept. 23rd. That will be a “Bring your own meat” tailgate. We are rolling out updates to how we tailgate, so more info will be put out as we get more content online.

For now, let me know if you are coming to the Tulane game: robertsmith5@att.net or 502-432-6185. Go Navy and Beat FAU. See you all soon.

Regards, Bob Smith ’85

NOTE: Pages for the various registrations should be up by 9/4/17. I will be posting a note regarding those as well as soliciting pictures, information for a class business directory, and any other suggestions you may have. Please feel free to email me directly angela.orlando@1985.usna.com ! Thanks all – Angela

Class of 1985 Class Elections

Posted on 08/22/2017 by 1985

Sent 8/22/2017

Classmates,

I am proud to announce we have an official slate of officers for our Class of 1985 Election. Classmate Tom Plofchan has confirmed our list of nominees to all offices and they are as follows:

President: Robert Smith
Vice President: Steven Pimpo
Treasurer: William Ridings
Corresponding Secretary: Victor Otero
IT Secretary: Angela Orlando

In consult with Tom and the USNA Alumni Association, since every officer was nominated and seconded by another classmate and all offices are unopposed, we will declare that each of these nominees has been elected to the office for which they were nominated. I appreciate your confidence in these nominees, and now officers, and I appreciate your confidence in me as well. We will continue to work as a team to provide the GREAT Class of ’85 with best of tailgating, travel, fundraising in support of USNA and Class projects, and our Class support of the USNA Mission. I will ask my new treasurer to put out of a Class financial statement in short order so that you can see our current finances and we will put forward some of our goals moving ahead. For me, that is taking the Class tailgating experience to a new level of excellence this season and building upon that each game and each season, successful planning and execution of the Hawaii and Notre Dame away games next season and putting together another great reunion in 2020 for our 35th Class Reunion. What do we need from you? Continued support on the attendance side of things as well as financial support both for the Class and for our support of the USNA Mission. I know you will step up as you always do and once again thank you for taking part in this process and making these nominees official in their positions. If you have questions about Class business, feel free to contact me: 502-432-6185 or Robertsmith5@att.net. If you have questions about the election process, please email Tom Plofchan at: tplofchan@aol.com. Go Navy, Beat Tulane and Beat Army!! Bob Smith ’85

Passing of Classmate Dan Matzke, 32nd Company

Posted on 08/22/2017 by 1985

Sent 8/9/2017

Class of ’85,

I received some sad news from classmate Duncan Simms regarding our classmate and his 32nd company mate Dan Matzke. Here is the email that Duncan sent to me:

32nd Company Classmates,

Over the weekend I received news from Dan’s ex-wife Angela. I am sad to convey the news that Danny passed away peacefully this past Saturday morning around 4:30am. As many of you know, Dan was diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease approximately 10 years ago. Huntington’s disease is a genetic disorder that causes both physical and mental deterioration over time. At the time, Dan was given approximately 5 years – he stuck it out for 10.

I (among others) had been keeping in touch with Danny through the years, and I tried to visit him in Denver when I could. My most recent visit was in May of this year. Despite his condition, Dan always had a terrific outlook on life. He introduced me around to his various caretakers, and he talked about how good the food was at his living facility. We went to a Colorado Rockies game along with his 2 sons. He seemed remarkably content. I didn’t notice any significant change in his condition as compared to the previous couple of years. Shortly after I was there Dan caught a bad flu which ultimately pulled him down. He was in hospice care and had sufficient pain medication to keep him comfortable during his final days.

I don’t have many details from Angela, but here’s what I know: Danny’s body will be cremated and his family will spread the ashes in either Annapolis or San Diego. There will be no funeral. Angela is going to organize a small celebration of life ceremony, but it sounds like attendance will be for family only. The Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society is organizing its 13th annual ‘Heroes Vs. Villains’ Team Hope Walk & 5K on Saturday, September 9th. Angela has created a “Team Dan Matzke” in this event to raise money in Dan’s name for the fight against HD. I will pass along a link to a website where donations can be made in Danny’s name as soon as I receive it from Angela.

Despite the ugly, debilitating effects of his disease, Danny had an unfailingly positive attitude. He always impressed me with his joyfulness and embrace of life. He never stopped loving a beautiful day, an action movie, a baseball game, and his 2 sons. He looked back fondly on his time at the Naval Academy and the friends that he made there including all of you. Attached is the most recent photo I have of him. I will miss him.

I thought it was appropriate to notify this group first of Danny’s passing. Please pass this news along to the other 32nd company classmates who are not copied here. Later this evening I will post a notice to the Class of ’85 page on the USNA Alumni Association website.

I regret to have to pass this sad news along at the beginning of a new week. I hope you are all doing well in your lives, families, and careers.

Fair winds and following seas to Danny. Best wishes to you all.

The Class of ’85 will support his family in any way we can and I ask all of you to keep Dan and his family in your thoughts and prayers in the days ahead. Thanks very much. Bob Smith ’85

Passing of Ron Zaleski, 34th Copmpany

Posted on 08/22/2017 by 1985

Sent 3/20/2017

Classmates,

I must first admit that I screwed up. I was given this information in February about the passing of Ron Zaleski, 34th Company, and since the USNAA Website was down, I tabled this information and forgot to timely pass it on when my mass email capability was turned back on. All I can say is: “No Excuse Sir”. We have always and WILL always support our own as our primary mission and I will be asking for someone to run as my Class Secretary this Spring who I can rely on for these matters. In any case, we are all saddened to report that Ron passed on February 15th. He is remembered as a great classmate and member of the Navy Football Team, a member of the 34th Company and a loyal Marine. Here is a link to his obituary and I hope those of you who knew him might reach out to his family in support as I have, and all of us say a prayer for Ron and his family: http://www.cressfuneralservice.com/obituary/178523/Ronald-Zaleski/.

My next email will be to outline procedures for the upcoming class election. If you are interested in running, I will have more information on the offices (including mine, although I would be honored to remain as your president) in emails and on the class website. Thanks to Brian McDonald for pointing Ron’s passing out to me. If anyone ever knows of a classmate in “distress” or who needs help or who passes, please feel free to reach out to me so we can rally support behind that person. Go Navy and my regards and apology, Bob Smith ’85

Opening Game Tailgate

Posted on 08/22/2017 by 1985

Sent 8/16/2017

Greetings Class of ’85,

It is that time of year to announce the kickoff of the Navy Home Football Season on September 9th against Tulane at 3:30 PM at NMCS, tailgate opens at 11:30 AM. Class of ’85 will be unveiling the new class tent that many of you so generously donated to purchase, as well as our new Class of ’85 Party trailler that will house a large flat screen TV and sound system that will be part of all home games this season (weather permitting). Charlie Smith and I have been working behind the scenes to take our class tailgating experience to the next level and you will see that when you attend our class tailgates this year. I appreciate Charlie’s support and if you care to volunteer this season to assist Charlie set up and take down for any of the games, please reach out to him at: charles.m.smith@gmail.com so he can get you on his schedule. The first game will be catered by Chris Hannan ’94 (Chris owns Bo Brooks catering and now McGarvey’s), he will be working with us again this season to provide catering for select tailgates starting with the opening game. Our menu will be his Place Kick Picnic and consist of:

Grilled ½ lb. Hamburgers
Grilled ¼ lb. Hot Dogs
Power Blend Cole Slaw
Potato Salad
Old Bay Chips with onion dip
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Chunk Brownies
Rolls and Condiments

We will once again be serving Beat Army Lager courtesy of Classmate Dave Marquis and The Chesapeake Brewing Company as well as wine and limited non-alcoholic beverages. We will ask all those in attendance to donate at least $25 per person to the class donation box if you choose to eat and drink that day. I will not be collecting admission for our class tailgates, but in order to keep up the quality of class tailgating, I will ask those of you who attend to keep up with the spirit of class giving and the honor code and put your money into the Class donation box. If you like what we are doing and have not contributed toward the class tent or new Tent/TV/Trailer/Sound System/Tables…. feel free to throw some extra money in the box, it will be put to good use.

Charlie and I are going to have a special theme for every home game and will soon be purchasing a gas grill to have at certain tailgates so that people can bring their own meat and let our guest grillers do the cooking and everyone signs up to bring side dishes according to the theme for that week. Looking ahead, we will do a Fried Chicken Day for the Air Force game on 10/7 and will do another fully catered tailgate at Homecoming on 10/21. That leaves us two more games for BYOF (Bring your own food) and we will announce those themes as we get more into the season. Charlie will be adding a sign up site so people can sign up to bring needed sides, this helps us get the right mix of food for those attending and not a 1000 bags of chips and no desserts. Unless you do not like burgers and dogs, just bring $25 to the first game.

I do need a head count for the first game, however, so if you are planning to attend, please shoot me a text or email with the number attending in your group: 502-432-6185 or robertsmith5@att.net so I can order the right amount of food and beverages. Remember to contact Charlie if you wish to help him out this season on our tailgate committee.

Looking ahead, we plan on having a tailgate at the Army Game in Philadephia at the Holiday Inn Stadium Sports Bar as we have in past years, more to follow. Sign ups continue for the 2018 Notre Dame game in San Diego. Here is the link to reserve your rooms: https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/events/start.action?id=1707110058&key=22EF9EF9 I have several reservations already made, so thank you. Looking really far down the road, I have contracted for the 2020 Class Reunion with the Westin Hotel. I will announce the date soon so you can make your long term plans. We will hope to once again raise the bar of excellence we set at the 30th Reunion.

For now, please respond to me about the opening game against Tulane and enjoy the rest of your summer. Go Navy, Beat Army and Tulane!! Regards, Bob Smith ’85