Source: Aerograph August 2026
The Pensacola Chapter held their 2nd quarter
meeting at the Fishing Hole Restaurant.
Those in Attendance: Larry & Nancy Warrenfeltz, Pat
& Libby O'Brien, Gerrie Marsch, Al Atwell,
Paul Belt, and Walt Kindergan
Meeting was called to order at 1325.
Minutes from the 27 Feb meeting were approved.
Treasurer's Report: There were no deposits and no
expenditures. Current Balance: $72.77
Old Business
Those present who sailed on the Celebrity Reflection all
agreed that it was a great cruise and reunion.
The food was superb and so was the alcohol. Of
course, the camaraderie couldn't be beat. It was
great getting together again. Our thanks to Patti
and Ed for organizing this event.
New Business
The next reunion will take place in Charleston, SC.
The dates are pending. We do know it will be
in April. Pat reported hearing from Tom
Berkeridge and Jim Futtner. Tom is having a 2nd go round with RVS, a respiratory illness, and he reports it's not
fun. Jim is still dealing with his back problem, but
otherwise doing well.
Next Meeting
September 3rd at 1300 at the Grand Buffet in Pace, FL
News from the Crew
Pat and Libby O'Brien are
still chugging along. He continues to fish from his kayak, golf, and work at
his church. Libby is still being treated for her cancer but doing
well. In July, they traveled north to
Cape Charles, Virginia, to visit with Pat's family. Pat saw one
of his great grandchildren for the
first time while there. Following their visit in Cape Charles, they
headed to Norfolk for a USS Nimitz Association Reunion. As part of the reunion, many former Nimitz
sailors got to visit the their
old ship again, Pat was last on the Nimitz in 1977, so he's very interested in
seeing what changes have
been made to the weather office. Jim Futtner who
was also on Nimitz, will be joining the
O'Briens there. He continues to battle back issues, but he's planning to
drive down to Norfolk from
Hartford. Pat's last correspondence with Tom Berkeridge was
good. Tom had a cystoscopy in early
July, and the doc said his bladder cancer had not progressed. That's good
news.
Nancy
and Larry Warrenfeltz made a circumnavigation of the
southeast during the first three weeks
of June.
First destination was Frederick, MD, for Nancy’s 50th Reunion at Hood
College. From there,
it was north to Pennsylvania for their oldest
granddaughter’s high school graduation. See pic below.
|
Next
stop was a long weekend at their son and daughter-in-law’s beach
condo in Wildwood Crest, NJ.
They
left NJ via the ferry from Cape May to Lewes, DE. After a stop at a
Naval Academy classmate’s
house in
Ocean City, MD, it was on to Kill Devil Hills, NC, for the annual
beach reunion of Nancy’s
family.
Finally, after making the long drive back to Florida, Larry doesn’t
have any more immediate
travel plans!
|
Ed and Patti Straten went to Biloxi for the
Happy Together Tour. The show was excellent and included original members of
the Vogues, Jay and the Americans, Chicago, the Cowsills, The Association,
Troggs, Archies, and the Turtles. In June they traveled to NH for a whirlwind
week of family barbeques and parties, a reunion luncheon of Patti’s classmates,
topped off by the high school graduation of their youngest grandson, Ryan. They will celebrate their 45th Anniversary
with an Elvis tribute show in Biloxi followed by dinner at the 32 Restaurant
there. Ed and Patti have decided to
spend the rest of their summer at the condo in Pensacola, swimming in the pool
and relaxing.
Rose and Arthur Frazier have been staying busy with TOPS (Take Off Pounds
Sensibly) local chapter and Rose is the state Treasurer. They have also been
cruising and traveling quite a bit, with 5 cruises from August last year thru
January this year plus a short trip to Oklahoma, one to Tennessee, and a few
long weekends. Arthur is waiting to get a knee replacement and Rose had both
her right shoulder and right hip replaced last year. Rose is doing well but still
having balance issues. They now have a total of 8 grandchildren ranging in age from
18 months to 34 years old and 2 great grandchildren ages 7 and almost 4. Rose is
still crafting and helping others.
Arthur is dealing with headaches and other health problems but also
volunteers for various causes. They are in the planning stages for a mission
trip to Costa Rica next February, setting up fundraising events and getting volunteers
to go with them. Even with all this
going on, Frazier’s have 3 cruises planned for the rest of this year - Alaska
land tour & cruise, SE Caribbean and a shorter birthday cruise for a friend
turning 80! Now this is what retirement
is all about.
Walt and Becky Frazier are doing well. Walt is a part time pastor at Holy Trinity
Episcopal Church which is the same church attended by Pat and Libby. Pat is impressed with Walt's sermons.
Paul Belt is still banging the golf
ball around with other members of the Sandcrab Senior Golf Association. He won 1st place in his flight at a recent
tournament.
Gerrie Marsch has moved to a senior
living facility. She is doing well, and
says she's happy at her new
surroundings.
Al Atwell is still driving his
automobile at age 95. Wow! He is never short of sea stories when we
meet.
Bernie Bauer is no longer attending
Blue Wahoo baseball games because the seats create problems with his back.
|
Source: Aerograph May 2026
The Pensacola Chapter held its first quarterly meeting at Nick's Boat House Restaurant. Attendees: Larry and Nancy Warrenfeltz, Ed and Patti Straten, Pat and Libby O'Brien, Paul Belt, and Gerrie Marsch.
Meeting was called to order at 1305.
Minutes from the 3 Dec. meeting were accepted as read.
The treasurer reported a balance of $72.77 in the treasury. There were no deposits or expenditures since the last meeting.
Old Business: Patti Straten reported there are 28 expected attendees for the reunion cruise plus Rick McKay. She read the cruise schedule which she received via email. The ship will get underway at 1600 on day 1. She hopes everyone will get together for cocktails everyday at 1700 and dinners at 1800. She will attempt to get us a bridge tour at some point during the cruise, and reported there will be a formal night. Each reserved room will receive a $50 onboard credit. Libby asked if everyone had ordered ducks, and a discussion on ducks followed.
New Business: There was no new business to discuss except for our next quarterly meeting. We will meet again on Friday, May 29th at the Fishing Hole Restaurant on Brent Lane.
Meeting adjourned at 1330.
News from the Crew Ed and Patti Straten enjoyed the Navy Weather Reunion aboard the Reflection so much they decided to stay on a few more days and explore Key West. After returning to Pensacola, Patti traveled to New Hampshire for her annual week with her sisters and grandchildren and spend an exciting spring with friends and family!
Pat and Libby O'Brien enjoyed being with everyone once again. That's the great thing about reunions. We get to spend some time with people we don't normally see everyday. Libby spent a good deal of her time hiding ducks throughout the ship. She tells everyone that kids love them. Libby is still being treated for ovarian cancer. Her oncologist here in Pensacola has recommended she consider having radiation on a small tumor which is the only cancer he can now see. The O'Briens leave for Tampa in early May to see her cancer team at the Moffitt Cancer Center. Pat does the driving and gets all his instructions from the co-pilot seat. You know what he means. Pat continues to play golf and fish as much as possible and continues to work at his church as a member of the green team. Pat tries to stay in touch with Gerry Dufford in Tallahassee, Jim Futtner in Hartford, and Tom Berkeridge in the Villages here in Florida. Conversations normally center around our health issues. It was nice to have Jim and Tom take the cruise with us. Locally, Paul Belt is still playing golf, and he and Cheryl continue to travel here and abroad. They recently returned from a trip to Spain and reported Spain is in a severe drought. Paul loaned me his ship's bell for the two-bell ceremony we had aboard the Reflection. Thank you Paul.
Walt Kindergan told me he had nothing to report, but I will tell you Walt is a part-time rector at our church, and he does a superb job. Denny Maljevac tells me he and Helen take a daily car ride around town just to get out of the house. Helen is in the early stages of dementia, and she recently fell and broke her arm. Keep them in your prayers. Pat talked with Bernie Bauer before sending in his input, and Bernie is doing okay. He, like many of us older folk, has back issues. He doesn't attend the Blue Wahoos' baseball games or the Ice Flyers' home games because of his back. He says he would go if they would provide him with a chaise lounge chair to sit in. We all know that won't happen.
Larry and Nancy Warrenfeltz had no input other than the photo below. The ladies were having a good time.
|
Libby O'Brien, Nancy Warrenfeltz, Patti Straten and FJ Cutting
|
Source: Aerograph February 2026
The Pensacola Chapter met at the home of Larry and Nancy Warrenfeltz on 3 December 2025.
Those in attendance: Al Atwell and daughter Kimberly, Paul Belt and Cheryl Alter, Pat and Libby O’Brien, Ed and Patti Straten, and Larry and Nancy Warrenfeltz.
Meeting called to order at 1435.
Minutes from our September meeting at the Shrimp Basket Restaurant were previously forwarded and approved.
Treasurer reported the current balance as $72.77. There were no deposits or withdraws from our account. All members present are current with dues. Report was approved.
Nancy Warrenfeltz reported on the status of Gerri Marsch. Gerrie had another recent fall and possibly broke a pelvic bone. She will be moving to assisted living at the Veranda. Daughter Missy and son-in-law Jack are coming to Pensacola to help her.
Pat O’Brien updated the status of Denny and Helen Maljevac. Denny cannot drive due to his limited vision. Helen is developing memory problems. They will be moving to Jacksonville to be near family at some point in the near future.
Pat O’Brien will send a copy of Mariane Hawks’ obituary to Smitty for publication in the Aerograph.
Patti Straten updated the chapter on the status of our April reunion cruise. We have 30 signed up, plus Rick McKay is on his own Celebrity pass. Stephen Smith has ordered magnets for our stateroom doors. 28 January is the due date for final payment. 28 February is the date we can sign up for our Express Passes.
Next meeting will be Friday, 27 February at Nick’s Boat House at 1300.
Meeting adjourned at 1505.
News from the Crew Ed and Patti Straten had an exciting Christmas season this year. They started December with Christmas parties including the excellent yearly WX Christmas Party hosted by Larry and Nancy Warrenfeltz. They then boarded the beautiful Celebrity Constellation for two weeks. Gorgeous Christmas decorations, amazing food and stellar entertainment. They stopped in Key West (always so much fun), Cozumel, Bahamas, Belize, and Costa Maya. They cruised with friends, always a wonderful time. See pics below.
|
Photo Album Gallery Place Holder - Please wait while the Photo Album loads.
If the album does not show, please refresh the page to try again.
|
They arrived back in Pensacola just in time for the annual grandchildren zoom on Christmas eve. This is when Patti reads the Night Before Christmas to the grand kids. Christmas was perfect with their daughter Kim and son-in-law John and two of their five grands, Caitria and Dominic. By New Year's Eve, all the partying and traveling was catching up to them. They spent the first week of the new year just relaxing. But now it is time to start preparing for the fabulous Navy Weather Reunion Cruise in April. It is truly going to be an amazing time!
Walt Kindergan had no personal news to share, but says Gerrie Marsch is recovering nicely after a fall at home in late November. Gerrie is planning to sell her home here in Pensacola and move into an assisted living facility.
Al Atwell reports all is well, and he regrets he cannot join us on our cruise.
Larry and Nancy Warrenfeltz had no news to share, but thanks to them, our chapter met at their house for our annual Christmas meeting and party. A great time was had by all.
Pat and Libby O'Brien celebrated their 83rd and 84th birthdays respectively in the fall and their 31st wedding anniversary on Christmas Day. To celebrate all these events, they took a 12-day Caribbean Cruise out of Tampa that began on Christmas Eve. Before cruising they received some disturbing news. Libby's cancer is back. A small nodule was detected on a CT Scan. Both of her oncologists, one here in Pensacola, and the other in Tampa agreed not to resume chemo at this time and will
continue to monitor the cancer's progress. A bigger problem currently is her left knee. She was scheduled for knee replacement surgery when the cancer first appeared. That resulted in the surgery being cancelled. We are hoping a procedure scheduled for late January will result in her having less pain and discomfort. Wish them luck.
When returning from their cruise, the O'Briens stopped in Tallahassee and visited with Gerry Dufford for the second time in a couple of months. Duff was Pat's defense counsel at Pat's CPO Initiation in 1974 at Lakehurst. Duff and his wife Kathy are both dealing with medical issues. Please keep them in your prayers.
Pat continues to play golf and fish when the weather allows it. Speaking of golf, Paul Belt in a recent tournament took 2nd place in his flight and also earned closest to the pin money on one of the par 3s. Good shooting Paul.
Pat received a phone call from Tom Berkeridge saying he is still hoping to make the reunion cruise in April. He is also dealing with medical issues of one sort or another; the latest being a bout of pneumonia. As a friend once told me, "Old age is not for sissies." Amen.
Like Tom, Jim Futtner also stays in touch with the O'Briens, and Pat says he is in good spirits, but still battling back issues. Jim plans on flying down to Fort Lauderdale for the reunion cruise.
Submitted by Pat O'Brien, Sec/Treas.
|
Photo Album Gallery Place Holder - Please wait while the Photo Album loads.
If the album does not show, please refresh the page to try again.
|
Source: Aerograph November 2025
The Pensacola Chapter met at the Shrimp Basket Restaurant here in Pensacola. Those in attendance: Al Atwell, Paul Belt, Larry and Nancy Warrenfeltz, Pat and Libby O'Brien, Ed and Patti Straten, and Gerry Marsh and her invited guest Sharon.
The meeting was called to order 1450 hours.
Secretary's Report: Minutes from the 3 July meeting were unanimously accepted.
Treasurer's Report: There was no change in the treasury. Our balance is $22.77. The treasurer began collecting dues for the upcoming fiscal year, and we now have $72.77 in the treasury
Old Business: Patti Straten reported we have 28 individuals signed up for the April 2026 Cruise. That number doesn't include Rick McKay who has passage booked using his own account. There are 20 rooms available until the end of November. Celebrity Cruise Lines wants us to decide on the gap points, and Patti suggested we wait until our Dec. meeting. It was decided we need a logo and an itinerary for the cruise.
New Business: Pat reported the death of Bruce Glaes. This information came from the President Tim Kenefick.
Next Meeting: We will meet and Larry and Nancy home on 3 Dec.
Meeting adjourned at 1514 hours.
News from the Crew Ed and Patti Straten attended the Return with Honor event honoring POWs held at the Naval Aviation Museum. The event included over 700 attendees as well as excellent speakers. Ed's picture was taken and included in the Pensacola News Journal article.. See pics below. Patti sent in this information early because she and Ed are heading out to sea again. There's no land-lubbing in this pair.
|
Photo Album Gallery Place Holder - Please wait while the Photo Album loads.
If the album does not show, please refresh the page to try again.
|
Pat and Libby O'Brien traveled up to Indianapolis in August and attended the USS Nimitz Association Reunion at the Marriott. On the way north, they stopped in Evansville for a couple of days and visited Libby's granddaughter and her family. Then they proceeded north to Carmel, IN, to visit Libby's grandson and his family. Following the reunion they went back to Carmel for a few more days of visiting. Jim Futtner flew into Indy from Hartford, CT, to attend the Nimitz Association Reunion, and he and the O'Briens did some sightseeing together. The highlight of their sightseeing was going to the Indy 500 Racetrack and Museum. They all say, If you are in Indianapolis, don't miss this experience. One day after arriving home in Pensacola, Libby was hospitalized for 6 days. She was totally out of it for the first couple of days. Docs decided she had a viral infection. Before going home, an MRI revealed she had a minor stroke. She is doing fine now and has had no residual effects. She and Pat just returned from a trip to the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa where she had a pelvic exam as a follow-up to her ovarian cancer. Exam showed no cancer present. At home, she received good reports from her neurologist and cardiologist, and her cancer prevention medications have been resumed. On the way to Moffitt, the O'Briens stopped in Tallahassee for a couple of hours to visit with Gerry Dufford. Chief Dufford, as Pat knew him, was with Pat at the AG Schools in Lakehurst in the early 70s Duff was Pat's defense counsel at Pat's Chief's Initiation in 1974. Pat laughs every time he recalls that day. He and Duff shared a lot of fond memories of Lakehurst. Duff is not nearly as spry as he used to be. He gets around with a cane, and he told Pat he still tries to play golf once or twice a week but it's not easy. Duff's wife Kathy is pretty much house bound and Duff stays nearby most of the time. Pat asks that you keep Duff and Kathy in your prayers. See pics of Duff with the O'Briens below. Pat continues to play golf and fish when the weather permits. He says he has more success fishing than he does at golf. Pat has a sit-on-top pedal drive kayak he uses for fishing. He fishes with ultralight tackle, and according to his son, he catches bait. Pat says the tug is the drug, small or not.
|
As of the Aerograph deadline, Nancy and Larry Warrenfeltz were on their way north to Annapolis. The great Naval Academy Class of 1975 (The Flower Children of the Brigade) celebrated their Golden 50th Reunion 22-26 October. Larry promises pics in the next edition of the Aerograph. Bernie Bauer says
he is doing okay. He no longer attends Blue Wahoo baseball games or Ice Flyer hockey games, so the O'Briens don't see him near as much as they once did.
Al Atwell advises that he is hanging in there in spite of a few old age things like occasional skin cancer treatments and needing a cane to help him keep his balance . Beyond that his most significant challenge is finding something worthwhile to do every day since his wife passed away. He belongs to several veterans groups but says it was experience as a "weather guesser" that kept him heading in the right direction in some very challenging assignments during his 44 years of active duty.. And more recently he appreciates the help of Larry Warrenfeltz, other members of the Pensacola Chapter, and Editor Smitty in preparing a beautiful memory story of Al's wife, Helen, who served our country with distinction during the Vietnam conflict, Paul Belt is still swinging golf clubs and traveling. Pat's not sure where he and Cheryl may be at this writing.
|
|
