7 Sep 2016

Classmates,

To be more informational, we will do a weekly update for the fall football season to cover pertinent issues for that weeks’ Navy Football game (home and away) and any other class business. I hope this helps everyone feel connected and assists you in making plans for attending the home game if there is one or watching the away games at the Chesapeake Brewery in Annapolis and enjoy drink specials for our Class. Navy kicked off the season with a victory over Fordham and hopes to continue their winning ways against the UConn Huskies at 1530 at NMCS. As we did last weekend, we will have beer provided by Chesapeake Brewery and then ask everyone to bring some tailgate food for sharing. We will do a major catered event at the Homecoming game against Memphis on 10/22. There will be a special cookout at an upcoming tailgate from our Classmate Eric Bowman and his nuke sub cooker, so stay tuned. The tailgate will kickoff around 1:00 and will go until about 30 minutes post game. As always, we will have our donation box or I am still accepting season donations like some have done via check (THANK YOU!). Those can be sent to me at:

776 South Angola Rd.

Coldwater, MI 49036

Put “Class of ’85 tailgate” in the memo block and these will get put into our class account. In either case, your support is appreciated. I will plug the Navy v. Notre Dame Game again, (our 31st Reunion weekend), from Nov. 3-6 down in Jacksonville, FL. Please check out the class website at: http://1985.usnaclasses.net . Or contact me directly. We still have discounted rooms and plenty of space at our tailgate and other activities. We have over 300 classmates coming to the game and over 100 so far committed to the tailgate.

On a sad note, we lost a member of our Class this week, Chuck Merrit (15th Co) has lost his wife Debbie Merrit to her battle with cancer. We extend our deepest sympathies and prayers to Chuck and his family. Chuck can be reached at:

1630 Meadow Oaks Lane

Huntington, MD 20639

Or: cmerrit@comcast.netor Cell: 410-535-9233

Her obituary is at this link: http://www.ompsfuneralhome.com/obituary/deborah-c-merritt/

On that I will close this week’s update and as always, am here to serve, so if you have any needs or suggestions of anything Navy or  Class related please contact me directly. If you any questions about Saturday’s Tailgate, please contact Dave McDonnell at david_555@verizon.net. Our Class Apparel store is offering free shipping for Fall Shipments of Class Apparel. Check out that site at: http://usna85.deco-apparel.comThese clothes are GREAT and wear well as I have now owned some for 1 full year. Support our Classmate Jim Berdeguez and his business while sporting some really nice USNA ’85 Apparel. We have the best Class store of any graduating class by far thanks to Jim. Okay, that is all…. See you at Homecoming as I will be in town with my wife to host that tailgate. Go Navy and Beat the Huskies!! Cheers to all.

Bob Smith ’85  Class President and party planner

EMAIL Blast 6 Jan 2016

Class of 1985,

I am VERY excited to announce the preliminary plans for our 31st  Class Reunion in Jacksonville, FL. on the weekend of November 4-6, 2016. Navy plays Notre Dame in EverBank Stadium on Saturday November 5th and the Class of ’85 (like we did in Dublin 2012 and will again in 2017 in Hawaii) “WIN” the weekend. I only took a few days off in Cancun after the reunion and then back to the grindstone planning this weekend and so far so GREAT! Here is what I have:

1) We have a block of 40 rooms for Nov. 3rd and 100 Rooms for Nov. 4th and 5th at the Marriott Resort Sawgrass (where they play the TPC Golf tournament every May). The block rate is $179.00 per night and there will be more information soon on how to reserve your rooms.

2) On Friday we are planning a golf outing at one of the TPC Sawgrass courses (most likely the Valley course since the Stadium course will be closed for renovating). On Friday there will also be a day trip to beautiful and historic St. Augustine for the non-golfers. That night, we will have an amazing dinner party at the Marriott’s Cabana Club on the beach. (once again, more details to follow, but we are locked into this location for that night).

3) On Saturday (game day), we have secured a private lot just blocks from EverBank Stadium and will be building our Class of ’85 Tailgate (Sponsored in part by Classmate Jim Anderson of 16th Co.) I have a commitment from NAAA for a Class of ’85 ticket block at the price of $85 per ticket. We get access to purchase our block prior to the opening of normal ticket sales. I will have motor coaches from the beach to and from the stadium for the tailgate and game.

So…. here is what I need to get this going. On the Class website Angela Orlando has helped set up a survey for those interested in attending. I need everyone who plans on attending to PLEASE fill this out. You are not obligated by doing this, but I need a rough count for tickets so that I can give NAAA a good number to reserve for our class. I expect this to be a hard ticket to get because of the time of the year and because both fan bases travel so well. I will have a full roll out of final details and sign ups when I have completed all the contracts and setting up of events and web links. For now, I just wanted all of you to “SAVE THE DATE” and prepare yourself for our 31st reunion (no Hurricanes this year!!). Stay tuned and go to this this link for me: http://1985.usnaclasses.net/2015/10/24/notre-dame-2016/. Fill out the brief survey and stay tuned for more to come.

I would also encourage those you who have not taken a look at Classmate Dave Marquis new Chesapeake Brewing Company Brewpub under “construction” on West Street Annapolis to please do so. They have opened their “Plankowner” program to our class and I am proud to say I am an early plankowner in the Beat Army Bar. It will be great to partner with Dave and Carolyn for years to come in Annapolis and to have Chesapeake Brewing Company Beer and Food as a staple at our home tailgates. The link for plankowning is on our class website here.

Happy New Year Class of ’85 and no better way to kick off 2016 by announcing another GREAT Class of ’85 Event. Cheers to all of you and stay tuned for more good news to come.

As always, please feel free to email, text or call me: robertsmith5@att.net, or 502-432-6185 with questions or comments or join our USNA ’85 group on Facebook. Go Navy and Beat EVERYONE!!

Bob Smith ’85

Email blast sent 8 Dec 2015

Class of ’85,

For anyone who needs one more reminder about our pre-game Tailgate this Saturday, December 12th, here goes:

• The Stadium Sports Bar at the Holiday Inn Philadelphia Stadium, 900 Packer Ave., Philly. http://stadium-bar.com
• Starts at 1130 and goes through 1430 in time to depart for the March on.
• The Cost is: $30 for Adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. This includes a food buffet and discounts on selected beers and wine. PAY AT THE DOOR to the bar staff in cash or Credit.
• Drink prices will be good for pre and post game if you care to return after the game to celebrate our win.
• You can park at the hotel for $30 and be right there for the tailgate and then a 12 minute walk to Lincoln Financial Field.

So…. COME EARLY, STAY LATE AND BEAT ARMY!!

I have 2 Club seats in Sect. C4, row 7 (Navy side of course!) to sell. Face Value is $135 and I paid far more than that but am willing to make a deal. (I am still going but was offered seats in a sky box). The Club Seats are AMAZING, so if you want to make a last minute plan for seeing us win the CIC trophy and enjoy a mid 60’s December day in Philly, give me a call or text: 502-432-6185. See all of you SATURDAY and super excited, our group is over 50 and growing.

Also, we have rolled out a new line of Fall Class of ’85 items. We have 2 really great tops, one fleece (unisex) and one a lightweight athletic top in men’s and ladies’ styles and sizes. Check out our Class of ’85 Apparel store and get your orders in for a great Christmas Gift!! http://usna85.deco-apparel.com

I have seen all these tops and REALLY LOVE THEM! You will too.

Safe Travels and enjoy the big game wherever you get to view it. Cheers and BEAT ARMY #14!!

Bob Smith ’85