Source: Aerograph May 2012
The Chapter had a meeting/get together at the China Sea Buffet in Milton at 1300 on March 18. The following members were in attendance: Bernie Bauer, Steve Deola, Al and Helen Atwell, Dick and Elizabeth Tokryman, Larry and Nancy Warrenfeltz, Arnold (Bill) and Barbara Pruitt, Ed and Gerrie Marsch, Denny Maljevac, Howard and Shirley Graham, Dave and Jane Driggers, Bill and Joyce Mitchell, Ken and Barbara Overholt, Pat and Libby O'Brien, and Bob and Sherry Kell. Newest members of the Chapter are Bob and Sherry Kell. At the meeting, Bernie Bauer was elected President and Bob Kell took over as the Secretary/Treasurer. Dottie Shay (wife of John Shay) continues to be in and out of the hospital and rehab since their auto accident a few months back. Please keep her and John in your prayers. Bernie, Pat and Libby are anxiously awaiting the start of the Blue Wahoo's baseball season (Pensacola's AA baseball team). They have season tickets. Dave and Jane Driggers will be making their summer migration to North Carolina. Rose Frazier had surgery on her foot and is doing well. Her sister Theresa Gastel and youngest son have moved to Milton. Theresa is working at GE in Pensacola. Rose's 14 year old son Timothy is finishing the eight grade with all A's (well done, Timothy). Rose's mom, Irma is living in the guesthouse. Arthur is doing fine and we hope to see him at the next meeting. My son Chris was in the hospital for about three weeks. My stepson, Chris had surgery on March 19. Both are doing well. The O'Brien's have stayed close to home these past three months, but that’s all about to change. They did travel to Evansville, IN, to see Libby’s youngest granddaughter baptized, and Pat has a float-fishing trip planned for late April on the New River in West Virginia. In May, Pat and Libby will head north to Olivet, MD, for a memorial service in honor of Pat's late sister's brother-in-law. From there, they will head west to Durango, CO, to join up with their dear friends Jim and Joan Futtner and Diane Mielcarz. They'll be taking a train from Durango up into the mountains to spend a couple hours in Silverton, CO. Following this venture, the crew will head to Colorado Springs for reunion #38. In late August Pat and Libby will be heading to Dublin,Ireland. They are hoping to get tickets for the Naval Academy and Notre Dame football game on September 1st. More on this trip next issue. Pat and Libby continue to enjoy their time on local golf courses, and Pat had the pleasure of meeting two fellow AGs in his senior golf league: Ernest Gherdes and John Shea. Pat was stationed with John at Chanute AFB in Rantoul, Illinois, between 1983-1985. It just goes to prove that sometimes it is a very small world. Pat doesn't know much about Ernest other than the fact that he was an AG1 before becoming an officer. Both of these gentlemen will be invited to the next meeting of the P'cola Chapter. A couple of other fellows from Pat's past showed up at our local Chapter meeting in March: Bob Kell and Larry Warrenfeltz. Pat knew that Bob Kell and his wife, Sherry, had move moved back to Milton, Fl, and expected to see them, but he was quite shocked to see Larry and his wife Nancy. They hadn't crossed paths since being stationed at NavEastOceanCen Norfolk in the early 80's. At the end of March, the O'Brien's had the pleasure of joining Dave and Jane Driggers at their home in Pensacola for a lovely evening of hors d'oeuvres, drinks, dinner, and lively conversation. Pat maintains contact with Paul Lyon and Jerry Dufford via the internet. Paul has had more medical issues than he cares to talk about. Duff is doing well and back to playing golf. Gene Witsman expected to be at our March meeting, but he was unable to attend due to an injury. As Gene put it, "Due to my graceful movements I had to visit the surgery room last Tuesday and get some repairs and preventative maintenance to my right shoulder. Tore my rotator cuff completely and the bicep muscle's attachment point. Got two new pins at each location. Anyway, I can't yet drive too far so I didn't make it to the meeting. I guess I will have to figure out what I am going to do about my annual wanderlust trip this year too, because the only movement allowed with my arm is by a physical therapist for the next 8 weeks!" The next meeting is scheduled for June 10 at 1300 at Sonny's 630 N. Navy Blvd in Pensacola. Thanks to Gerrie Marsch for obtaining the location.
Submitted by AGCS Bob Kell USN RET
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Source: Aerograph February 2012
The O'Briens had an eventful autumn. In September, Pat had his dermatologist clean up some pre-cancerous nodes on and around the face, but he had a basal cell on his nose that would require surgery or radiation treatments. Because the surgery would require three weeks of down time (no strenuous activity including golf) he opted for the twenty radiations treatments with no down time. He had to go four times a week for treatment which lasted a little over a minute. In October, Pat celebrated his 69th birthday. The following week he and Libby attended the Nimitz Association Reunion held here in Pensacola. Pat says, "It was a great reunion." It ended with cocktails and dinner at the Naval Aviation Museum. Following the reunion, Jim and Joan Futtner spent an additional week at the O'Briens home in Cantonment. In November, Pat and Libby spent the week of Thanksgiving at their timeshare in Orange Beach, Alabama enjoying the beach, fishing, and golf. Libby had some additional cataract work done by her ophthalmologist, and all went well. Pat had his annual heart check-up, and his doctor discovered a tic in Pat's left carotid artery and recommended he have it checked. To make a long story short, the artery was 80 pct blocked, and Pat had the artery roto rootered in December. Because of this surgery, plans to visit Libby's youngest daughter and family in Evansville for Christmas had to be shelved, and he and Libby spent a quiet holiday at home. Pat thanks all those who wished him well following his surgery.
Submitted by Steve Deola
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Source: Aerograph November 2011
On 28AUG11, at 1530, the Pensacola Chapter met at Ski Beach. The following members were present: Pat and Libby O'Brien, Steve and Betsy Deola, Dave and Jerrie Dunlap, Howard and Shirley Graham, Bernie Bauer, Al and Helen Atwell, and Richard Tokryman.
Bernie Bauer mentioned that one LCDR Cecil Johnson USN (Ret) owns a restaurant named Five Sisters Blues Café and members were encouraged to 'check it out'. So my wife and I did. It has indoor/outdoor seating, live jazz and blues on the weekends and some very good food. My wife being the budgeter she is, found a 'groupon' for the joint. We paid $10 to get $20 in food credit. When we go back I would pay It doesn't look like the place is going out of business...ever!
Apparently, Bob Selinka was spotted digging out of a bunker at the Scenic Hills Golf Course. One of the observers apparently put blowing sand in the ob.
In related news, Howard and Shirley Graham are leaving Pensacola for the easier life in Monck's Corner, South Carolina as soon as the house sells. They may be staying a while longer.
Don Cruse hasn't slowed down even during the transition to a plush, fancy retirement community.
In July, the O'Briens traveled south to Miami to board the Oasis of the Seas for a seven day Caribbean Cruise with Pat's daughter and family. The weather was ideal, the ship was most impressive, and the get together with family - priceless. In August, Pat's youngest son, Sean and his family drove down to P'cola to spend a week. They had a great visit. The grandchildren really enjoyed the few days they spent at the Blue Angel Recreation Area. After the children left, Pat & Libby settled down and spent almost two months at home. In late September, they celebrated Libby's 70th by attending the last two days of the Fedex Cup golf tournament in Atlanta. Military, active & retired, received free tickets, and there was an armed forces hospitality tent opposite the 16th green where food and drink were provided free of charge. You might want to remember Coca Cola, Budweiser, Chick Filet, and Hooters the next time you're out and about. These companies were the primary sponsors. Libby was also treated to dinner at the revolving Sundial Restaurant atop the Westin Hotel in downtown Atlanta. The nighttime view of the city was awesome, the service excellent, and the food pricey not priceless. The next stop was supposed to be the mountains of Georgia or North Carolina for a couple of days, but the weather wouldn't cooperate. Therefore, they opted to go west and stayed in Huntsville, AL. at the Army's Redstone Arsenal. They managed to get twenty-seven holes of golf on the Patriot Course while there. Then it was onto Evansville, IN, to visit Libby's youngest daughter and family. While there, Libby got to celebrate her birthday one more time. This time with cake and ice cream. In early Oct, they returned to P'cola, and as of this writing, they’ve been on a diet for six days. Pat said, "Too much of a good time requires sacrifices in order to fit in one's clothes."
That's all we have this time.
Submitted by AG1 Steve Deola USN RET
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Source: Aerogaph August 2011
Due to technical difficulties with the MS Word version of the chapter news, please refer to the Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version in the:
August 2011 Aerograph
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