Football season has arrived

Email sent 29 August 2018

Greetings ’85,

I am writing this looking at surfers on Waikiki Beach and getting ready for the morning walk with my wiife Sherry towards Diamond Head all because Navy is playing U of Hawaii Saturday at 1700 local Hawaii time. We have a GREAT crowd from our Class in attendance; as usual, the most of any individual graduating class (115 tickets sold). Thanks to those who made the trip and I will see you all this week if I have not seen you already. Check out our Class of ’85 Facebook group for the pictures we will post as we cheer the Mids to their first win of the season. So, let’s talk about our first home game. Charlie Smith and the crew in Annapolis have sent me this to attach:

****************  Home Tailgate Information  ************************************

I hope everyone is looking forward to another fantastic season of Navy Football. Navy hosts Memphis for the home opener at 3:30 on Sept 8th and our tailgate crew is already working on another great season of tailgating to complement our Midshipmen’s glory on the field.

With last year’s investments in the tent, trailer and gear, we have all the ingredients in place for an excellent tailgating experience. We are using the sign up page again this year and you can find the signup for the Memphis game here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A48ABAB28AAF49-memphis

The theme for the first game is Memphis BBQ. Charlie and Bill have agreed to cook ribs to get things kicked off. We will have cold beer on tap and other beverages to keep you cool. Please sign up so we can get a good count and plan to bring something to share with Classmates.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to Charlie @ Charles.M.Smith@gmail.com if you have suggestions or questions. Your feedback is welcome.

Go Navy – Beat Memphis

********************************************************************************************

Home tailgates will follow the same theme as last year, we have the Class of ’85 Tent, trailer and tailgate site ready to roll out next weekend. Last year everyone pitched in to make this new and improved tailgate site possible. Those who came to any home saw just how nice it is to have such a quality tailgate each and every game. In order to help me fund class tailgating again this year, I will ask that anyone interested in a one time contribution to our Class tailgate fund ($25, $50 or $100) please send it via Paypal or Venmo to: MD11driver85@gmail.com and PLEASE indicate it is for the Class of ’85 Tailgate Fund being sent to friends or family. This will allow me to budget for catering and for beer and wine, as well as continued improvements to our Class of ’85 tailgate experience both at home and away games. We will still have our “Honor box” at tailgates, these donations will help add to the things we can do and will keep the food hot and the beer  and wine flowing.

Next week,  I will be sending out an email dedicated to our Class of ’85 trip to San Diego for the Notre Dame game on October 27th. I have all the events planned out, so it is time to start collecting money and finalizing my head counts at all the events. There is still plenty of openings to join us on this trip, the hotel block has a few rooms and the Friday night party and tailgate is WIDE OPEN. You can still get tickets to the game from local sources. We are over 100 people signed up for this weekend and I would love to see us reach 150 or more. Stay tuned next week as I roll out the schedule of events and payment information. For now, enjoy the Navy game late Saturday on CBS Sports Network at 2300 EST and look for the Class of ’85 about the 20 yard line on the Navy side in rows 6-10. Get signed up for Memphis if you are going on September 8th and help Charlie out AND, donate a few dollars to our class tailgate fund if you will.

Thanks and BEAT HAWAII!!

Bob Smith ’85

PS: Please see the USNA ’85 website for details on all upcoming class events: http://1985.usnaclasses.net

Navy vs Notre Dame Weekend 2018

Email sent 13 Aug 2018

Class of 1985,

Some of you have already signed up for the Navy Notre Dame weekend, bought your tickets and reserved your hotel room and I thank you for doing this as it helps my planning tremendously. Now that I have the Hawaii trip pretty well planned out but not yet executed, I need to turn my sights to the Notre Dame game in San Diego on October 27th. For those of you not yet signed up, please go to the Class website and do so, here is the link: http://1985.usnaclasses.net. There are still a few rooms in our class block and plenty of rooms at other hotels in the area, so staying at the class hotel is not required to attend and enjoy any or all of the events. There are still game tickets available through ticketmaster or other ticket websites, so you can get those taken care of easily. I do not have the exact location of our class seating block other than it is on the Navy side of the field in or near an endzone. Once again, not required to attend the pre and post game tailgate with us, get your tickets and sign up. The schedule events so far looks something like this (all times are local or PST):

Thursday Kick off Happy Hour: 1700-2000, location TBA (Gas Lamp District, cash bar)

Friday Golf Outing: Time and location TBA, but will be morning at a local course.

Friday Evening Cocktail Reception at the Westin Gas Lamp: 1700-1900

Saturday:

  • Pregame tailgate party at the Gas Lamp Tavern hosted by Eco-Catering: 1230-1530
  • Board Buses to Qualcomm Stadium: 1530
  • Kickoff: 1700
  • Buses to Gas Lamp Tavern 30 minutes post Navy Blue and Gold

The approximate cost of the Friday night Happy Hour (Appetizers and Open beer/wine bar) $80pp

Tailgate Cost: (3 hours of food and open beer/wine bar) $80 pp

Bus transport to and from Qualcomm Stadium: $25.00

This once again promises to be a GREAT weekend for the Class of 1985 and so far, our attendance is amazing and I am sure there will be more of you that can now commit to this trip, so please go ahead and register. If you are not sure, please email me and I can tell you if you are on the list. In a few weeks I will start to finalize the counts for our events and collect money as necessary in advance via Paypal or Zelle. For now, get your travel plans and hotel rooms and game tickets lined up and stay tuned for more updates. We are working on a special Class of ’85 Navy Football Jersey that will go on sale for that weekend courtesy of James Gang Printing and classmate Jim Berdeguez.

Thanks as always and GO NAVY, beat the IRISH!!   Bob Smith ’85

Passing of a Classmate

Email sent 13 Aug 2018

Dear Class of 1985,

It is probably the saddest responsibility I have as your President in fielding calls or emails about Classmates who have passed away. I received comminication over the weekend that we have sadly lost another classmate. Here is a copy of a post from Facebook by Steve Kintzel:

Class of ’85,
It is with deep sadness that I must inform you of the passing of our classmate Anton “Tony” Kerr. Tony had just relocated his family from Columbia, SC to New Orleans due to a job change less than two months ago. Tony had a mild stroke about two weeks ago. I was able to talk with him shortly after his release from the hospital and he was very upbeat and the prognosis had been for a full recovery. Please keep his wife Jenny and their two teenage boys in your prayers. Here is the information which Jenny passed regarding the memorial service:
We will have a memorial service for Anton “Tony” Kerr on Wednesday, August 15 at 1pm at Shandon Baptist Church, 5250 Forest Drive, Columbia, SC. Burial will be held at a later date in the Ft Jackson National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please send memorials to First Baptist Church of Kenner- mailing address PO Box 1357 Kenner, LA 70062

I ask that you keep the family of Tony Kerr in your thoughts and prayers and reach out to them as appropriate. I know we have classmates who knew Tony well who will be attending his memorial and will keep us updated.

As always, be safe and Go Navy.

Bob Smith ’85

 

Hawaii Update

Email sent 4 Aug 2018
Hello Hawaii Travelers,

       We are getting quite close to the big Hawaii Trip and things are coming into very clear view now. I appreciate those of you that have sent me your payments for the Game, Tailgate and game transportation. The dinner plan is finalized for Friday evening at Tommy Bahamas Restaurant. I have attached a PDF flyer for this event. The total cost per person is $138.00. This includes 2 hours of beer, wine and well drinks and a nice sit down dinner with a choice of soup/salad and entrees of Fish, Chicken, Ribs or Steak plus a choice of dessert. The party will be on the rooftop at the Tommy Bahama Restaurant. See this trip advisor link: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60982-d8805974-Reviews-Tommy_Bahama_Restaurant_Bar_Store-Honolulu_Oahu_Hawaii.html. For a nice 3 hour event with all your food and drinks for an evening with a spectacular view of Waikiki….. I could not find a better spot and option for us after some serious research, so, I hope most everyone will attend. The attached flyer has info on how to pay me for this as I have had to do this with paying an advance deposit and then paying the bill at the restaurant that night, so I will collect in advance via paypal or check to me. See the flyer.
Here is the schedule of events so far:
Thursday: 0845 Pearl Harbor Tour (this is closed out except for those who are confirmed)
            1730 Meet at the Hale Koa Beach Bar for a pre-event of the Luau Dinner
Friday:  Friday tour with Rich Tilghman (this is also closed out, he it taking a private tour of Oahu for those who signed up)
1700-2000 Class Cocktail and Dinner Party at the Tommy Bahama Restaurant
Saturday:  1200 Bus Departures for Stadium and USNA ’85 Tailgate (This might change, but right now plan on 12:00) Buses will do pick ups at Waikiki Marriott, Hale Koa and the Laylow Marriott (A group of 16th Co. couples are joining us on Saturday off an Inter-Island Cruise staying at this hotel near the other hotels).
      1700 Navy vs. Hawaii game kick off
             Post Blue and Gold plus 30 minutes buses depart for hotels.
Sunday 1200-1900 Buses will depart hotels for Rich Tilghman’s house for Class Pool and Beach Party at Kailua Beach (Hawaii’s best beach). Cost is TBA, we will get back to you soon with more details on cost and payment options.
I will be reaching out next week with a list of who has paid me and who has not, but please get me your money for the paid events prior to the 15th as I have to pay in advance and will be covering funds out of pocket if I do not receive your money and you still want to attend. This will make my life easier not having to chase people down for money, if I have to, you owe me beers! So, enjoy the last month of summer and get ready for this amazing Hawaii Trip. Please reach out to me with any questions or changes or cancellations (hopefully none).
Payment Reminder:
Game ticket: $40 pp
Tailgate: $50 pp
Bus transport: $20 pp
Class Dinner: $138.00 pp
Paid to me at Paypal: md11driver85@gmail.com or check:
Bob Smith
776 S. Angola Rd.
Coldwater, MI 49036
Go Navy and Mahalo,
 Bob

Tommy Bahama Friday Night Event

Email sent 31 July 2018

While I finalize the plans for our Friday night “main” event dinner party for USNA ’85, I wanted to get the word out as to the decision. We will do the Island Bar package and the Mahaka Dinner package. Open the PDF attached and take a look. The total minus Tax and Gratuity is $105 so far with dinner and our cocktail hour. The rep from Tommy Bahama recommended doing an hour of just cocktails and may pay for an appetizer to be passed and then carrying over the bar service while we are seated and eat our dinners. I think a GREAT idea. I will let everyone know the final total on this event once I sign the contract and figure out how to collect the money. Most of you have have been great about letting me know about your attendance for just the diner event now that I have a place and a price. If you have not, I will figure out the count when I start collecting money. As of now, it looks like about 60 of us for the dinner on Friday. Stay tuned! Everything else is coming together nicely and I am please to see a few late arrivals to our group and we welcome them! Thanks again and our trip is getting closer. Navy is an early 17 point favorite in the game, I like that!! More push ups for Charlie Giles and Rich Tilghman.

Regards,

Bob Smith

Tommy Bahama Menu