Then and Now: Class of 1956 :: Nimitz Library :: USNA

Nimitz Library

Then and Now: Class of 1956

Midn. 1/C Baricev Victor J. and Geraldine Baricev Midn. 1/C Baricev. Victor J. "Vic" and Geraldine "Gerry" Baricev are living in Mandeville, Louisiana, a small town on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Victor spent twenty years with Avondale Shipyards, retiring as Vice-President of Purchasing, and then completed his career as Contracts Administrator for a large engineering firm in New Orleans. Both are now retired and enjoying time sailing, golfing, reading and spending time with their four grandchildren. They have been blessed with three fine children- Janet, Michael and Susan, and four grandchildren - Brendan, Patrick, Kevin, and Peter.

Midshipman First Class Roderick A. Rod Dresser Roderick and Margaret Dresser Midn. 1/C Dresser. Roderick A. "Rod", and Margaret "Maggi" Weston. In 1981, Rod made a career change from a family construction business to pursue his interest in photography. In his home town since 1949, Carmel, California Rod developed a friendship with noted photographer, Ansel Adams, and eventually assisted the artist in his studio and darkroom. After Adams' death, he continued working for the estate, completing various publishing projects. Moving to San Francisco in 1986, Dresser pursued his career as a commercial photographer for the next five years until the Ansel Adams Trust lured him back to resume the duties as their business manager. Since 1995 he has again been practicing his photographic art, teaching workshops and lecturing throughout the United States. In 1992, Virginia Adams (Ansel's widow), introduced him to Margaret Weston, owner of the world-renowned Weston Gallery; Rod and "Maggi" are now married. Rod published a monograph of his work in 2000.

Midn. 1/C Franklin Carroll R. and Frances Franklin Midn. 1/C Franklin. Carroll R. and Frances "Fran", Franklin. Carroll retired from the Marine Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1978, and went to work for GEICO Corporation, a major auto insurer in Chevy Chase, MD. He and Fran have lived in Fairfax, VA for more than 25 years, and have seen their sons Douglas and Robert, and daughter Carol all complete college, marry, and each provide them with two grandsons. Retirement promises to be filled with travel and a close watch on their grandsons progress through life.

Midn. 1/C Hayman Douglas F., Jr. and Judith Hayman Midn. 1/C Hayman. Douglas F., Jr. "Doug" and Judith "Judi" Hayman. Retiring from the Navy as a Captain, after nearly thirty years, they moved to a home in Annapolis, where Doug pursued a consulting practice in naval ship maintenance. After leaving consulting in 1990, he volunteered his time, first to the Naval Academy Archives and Museum, where he directed the production of a videodisc of the historical photograph and print collections. Many of the images available on this site are from those collections. He has also served as Secretary of the Class Executive Committee, searching out the whereabouts of all the members of the association and directed efforts to place memorial chairs for all deceased classmates in the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Doug continues to provide the USNA Archives with expert advice.

Midn. 1/C Kelso Admiral Kelso became the 24th Chief of Naval Operations in 1990   Midn. 1/C Kelso. Frank B., II and Landess Kelso. After attending Submarine School in 1958, ADM Kelso served in numerous assignments in the Submarine Force including tours as Commanding Officer of the USS FINBACK, and USS BLUEFISH, and then as Commander, Submarine Squadron SEVEN. Selected as RADM in 1980, his Pentagon assignments included Director, Strategic Submarine Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. In 1985, Admiral Kelso became Commander SIXTH Fleet and NATO Commander Naval Striking Force and Support Forces Southern Europe. In 1986, Admiral Kelso was promoted to admiral and assumed duties of Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and in 1988 he became Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic and Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command. Admiral Kelso became the 24th Chief of Naval Operations in 1990 and served in that position until 1994. Frank B., II and Landess Kelso and family The admiral described Landess as his "constant love and companion" throughout his career, and together they raised four "wonderful" children. The Kelso family continues the navy tradition, as two of their sons are naval officers and one daughter is also married to an officer. The Kelsos have four grandsons and four granddaughters, and are enjoying retirement in Springfield, VA.

Midn. 1/C Kennedy Don E. and Nancy Kennedy and family Midn. 1/C Kennedy. Don E. and Nancy Kennedy. Don spent thirty years with IBM, half of that time in the New York/Philadelphia area and the rest in Los Angeles. After retiring from IBM he served as a "Loaned Executive" to the Chief Administrative Officer of Los Angeles County. The Kennedys then moved their retirement to the home they had built ten years earlier in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Their time is now divided between there and Laguna Beach, California where they spend time with their grandchildren and two daughters who live there. Their son has chosen a more exotic life and gone into business in Singapore.

Midn. 1/C Mushalko George and Barbara Mushalko Midn. 1/C Mushalko. George and Barbara Mushalko. George retired from Air Force as a Colonel, in 1983, after serving for 27 years. They settled in Alexandria, VA, after spending their last six years assigned to the Pentagon. After retiring from the Air Force, he went to work for ANSER, and worked on projects supporting the Air Force. George served on the planning team for the 40th reunion of the Class of '56, and finds time to attend football and basketball games in Annapolis with other classmates. He has also been actively involved with the American Heart Association as an area chairman, and as a church lector.

Midn. 1/C Schoep John C. and Jacquelyn Schoep Midn. 1/C Schoep. John C. "Cliff" and Jacquelyn "Jacque" Schoep. Cliff retired from the Air Force in 1976 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He then joined the team of General Dynamics, working in San Diego, St. Louis, and finally at their corporate headquarters in Virginia. After taking early retirement from GD in 1993, he spent a year as President and COO of the National Center for Advanced Technologies, a non-profit research foundation in Washington, D.C., before he and Jacque decided to return to the St. Louis area. At the time of the 40th reunion Cliff was an Affiliate Professor in the Engineering and Policy Department of Washington University, his daughter and three children lived nearby and his son was an EDO Lieutenant assigned to the USS COWPENS (CG63) in San Diego.

Midn. 1/C Soltesz Stephen A. and Mary Soltesz Midn. 1/C Soltesz. Stephen A. "Steve" and Mary "Lydia" Soltesz. Steve retired from the Air Force as a Major, and after his final assignment in California, he and Lydia settled in Redlands, CA. Steve spent the next twelve years with the County of San Bernardino, serving as an Administrative analyst and retired in 1990. Their travels include and annual December weekend to San Diego to help local '56ers root to beat Army. Their daughter Diana is a Pepperdine grad and VP in a public relation firm as well as being a mother of two, and their son Stephen graduated from UC Riverside and is an aspiring writer.

Midn. 1/C Van Metre James M. and Nancy Van Metre Midn. 1/C Van Metre. James M. "Jim" and Nancy Van Metre. Captain Van Metre retired from what he described as "an eventful career in the Navy and submarines" in 1984, and from industry in 1989. He and Nancy reside in Northern Virginia and have been spending summers in Lovell, Maine and West Virginia. Both enjoy helping in their church in various capacities, and Jim has served as President of the Greater DC chapter of the USNA Alumni association. He served as editor of the Class of '56 40th Reunion Book, from which much of the information on his classmates that appears above was taken. The Van Metres have enjoyed travel to Europe and other locations during retirement, and their four children Lauren, Carolyn, Susan and Steven, and two grandchildren continue to bring great joy to their lives.

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