USS Fessenden Association

11/19/2020

Good morning Fessenden family and friends. I just wanted to take a moment to update you about our World War II Shipmate Ray Boas, as relayed by his son, Steve.

Ray, who turned 93 in April, fell in his home a few months ago. He tried to shrug it off, but eventually ended up going to the emergency room at his local hospital. It's a good thing that he did, because he had blood clots in his legs and his heart was in arrhythmia. Once the docs got him stabilized, he went to a rehabilitation center where he now resides.

Steve advised that his Dad got better physically, but that his short-term memory was affected. He is now resigned that he won't be going back to his home. Ray would love to get cards, letters and phone calls. Steve just asked that, if anyone calls, don't talk to him about getting better and going home or driving. Keep the conversation light and cheerful.

His address is:
Ray Boas
12 Conestoga Dr. Apt 8
Lititz, PA 17543

Phone: 717-581-4088

Kathleen and I wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and a much better new year!

10/13/2020

09/08/2020

06/14/2020

Edwin H. "George" Goebel Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

We are saddened to announce that shipmate Edwin "George" Goebel passed away in May

Share Memories & Support the Family.

03/17/2020

Kathleen and I are in Irving, Texas and we had lunch today with Betty Fessenden. Betty's late husband, Ken, actually helped to build USS Fessenden when he was living with his grandmother in Orange, Texas in 1943. Ken and Betty attended most of our reunions and they hosted two reunions in Galveston and Irving.

02/28/2020

For those of you who remember World War II shipmate Jasper Mamoliti, his daughter just advised me that he has entered assistive living due to deteriorating eyesight and hearing. Other than that, he is as healthy as a horse! Jasper and his late wife, Rose, were very active in the heyday of our association and they hosted our reunion in Baltimore in 1994. Jasper was a Fessenden plankowner and he was the coxswain who took the ship down the Sabine River to the Gulf of Mexico after it was commissioned. After his Navy days, he became a tugboat captain and harbor docking pilot in Baltimore. Jasper will be 97 on March 20th. I'm sure that he would appreciate a birthday card from all of you. His address is: Jasper Mamoliti, Masonic Home, Room 102, 300 International Circle, Cockeysville, MD 21030. Be sure to indicate that you are from the Fessenden. Thank you!

12/27/2019

View Stanley Chrzan's Obituary and express your condolences

We are saddened to announce the passing of World War II Fessenden shipmate, Stan Chrzan. His obituary is below.

Stanley Chrzan passed away in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The obituary was featured in The Republican on December 11, 2019.

12/24/2019

R. A. Fessenden on the Outer Banks: The Beginnings of Radio | NC DNCR

The story of our ship's namesake

R. A. Fessenden on the Outer Banks: The Beginnings of Radio Dec 24, 2016 On December 24, 1902, Reginald Fessenden, who had previously engaged in experiments on the Outer Banks, made the first intentional wireless radio broadcast, playing his violin and reading a passage from the Bible. Fessenden cam...

11/15/2019

Mike and Kathleen Kirsch are on a cross-country train trip and are visiting with Jack and Darlene Foster in Denver. They all send their regards.

08/09/2019

Laura M. Elashewich

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Foehsel Elashewich, wife of shipmate Ray Elashewich. Condolence cards can be sent to Ray at 4403 Black Nountain Road, Winchester, VA 22602-3488.

Laura M. Elashewich, 85, of Winchester, died Friday, August 2, 2019.

06/05/2019

03/16/2019

Shipmates, don't forget Jasper Mamolitti's 96th birthday on Wednesday. Please send him a card at 1604 Elligson Rd, Rosdeale, MD 21237. If you mail him a card today, he should get it in time for his birthday. Thanks!

03/11/2019

Broadside – Week of March 11, 2019

Broadside – Week of March 11, 2019

Click to order Underway With Broadside

03/09/2019

02/27/2019

Shipmates and friends, one of our Fessenden plankowners, Jasper Mammoliti, will celebrate his 96th birthday on March 20th. His daughter told me that he loves to get cards, so let's flood his mailbox with birthday greetings! Jasper was in the pre-commissioning crew of Fessenden when it was being built in Orange, Texas. He was the coxswain who steered the ship down the channel from Orange to the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Jasper and his late wife, Rose, were faithful attendees at our reunions and they hosted one in their hometown of Baltimore in 1994. Jasper's address is 1604 Elligson Road, Rosedale, MD 21237. If you would like to give him a phone call, his number is 410-687-9376. Thank you!

11/19/2018

Broadside – Week of Nov 19, 2018

Broadside – Week of Nov 19, 2018

Visit the post for more.

08/25/2018

12/24/2017

Merry Christmas to the Fessenden crew and family members!

10/13/2017

Navy Federal Credit Union

Happy Birthday U. S. Navy!

Happy 242nd birthday to the U.S. Navy!

10/06/2017

Chiefs at work

10/05/2017

Good article about the late Frank Maffessanti

10/04/2017

Frank Maffessanti's Obituary on Greensburg Tribune Review

We mourn the passing of a USS Fessenden plankowner, Frank Maffessanti. May he have fair winds and following seas.

Read the Obituary and view the Guest Book, leave condolences or send flowers. | Frank Maffessanti, 95, of Penn, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, in Easy Living Estates of New Stanton, with his loving family by his side. He was born Sept. 17, 1922, in Jeannette, a

08/10/2017

Ronald Sprenkle Obituary - Fountainhead Funeral Home | Palm Bay FL

Ron's Obituary.

Obituary for Ronald Sprenkle, Ronald Neal Sprenkle of Youngsville, N.C. formally of Melbourne, Fl passed away 8/5/2017 at Hillcrest Rehab at Crabtree Valley in Raleigh, N.C. He was born in York, Pa on 2/12/1933. Ron Proudly

08/05/2017

I just received a call from Alta Sprenkle advising me that Ron passed away peacefully around 10:30 this morning. Funeral services will be held near their former home in the vicinity of Melbourne, Florida at a later date. If you would like to send a card to Alta, you can reach her at 220 N. Raleigh Farms Road, Youngsville, NC 27596-9770. Rest in peace, shipmate.

07/28/2017

Shipmates, I just received a call from Alta Sprenkle. Ron has been hospitalized in North Carolina and his prognosis isn't good. Please keep Ron in your prayers and let God's will take charge. Also keep Alta and the family in your prayers at this difficult time.

05/03/2017

At the last USS Fessenden reunion in 2015, the delegates voted to have future reunions at the annual conventions if the Destroyer-Escort Sailors Association (DESA). This year, DESA will meet in Albany, NY from September 3-7 at the Radisson Hotel. If are a member of DESA, you should have received your DESA News with all of the details about the convention. Albany is the home of the museum ship USS Slater, the last DE that is still floating. For information about​ joining DESA, contact them at P.O. Box 488, Henderson Harbor, NY 13651-0488.

03/20/2017

Good morning shipmates! Today is the 94th birthday of Fessenden plankowner Jasper Mamoliti. If you get a chance, give him a call and wish him a happy birthday. His phone number is 1-410-687-9376.

03/06/2017

Federal Judge Sol Blatt Jr. has passed

Judge Blatt was a plankowner aboard USS Fessenden during World War II.

Sol Blatt Jr., a respected jurist who served on the federal bench longer than anyone else in South Carolina’s history, passed away Wednesday night at his home in Charleston. He

02/18/2017

Beverly Goebel Obituary, Virginia Beach, VA

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at 2409 Windy Pines Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23456-3955

Beverly Green Goebel, of Virginia Beach, VA, passed away on January 17, 2017, at the age of 83. Beverly was predeceased by her parents, Frederick and Viola Green; her son, Carl Pignone, Jr.; her ...

01/08/2017

We just learned of the death of Kirk McDonald, son of shipmate John and Laurel McDonald. Kirk passed away last Tuesday. He had been fighting cancer for a long time and John and Laurel took care of him as long as they could before Kirk was admitted to hospice care. Please keep the McDonald family in your prayers at this difficult time. Cards and expressions of sympathy may be sent to John and Laurel at their home address, 11134 W. Calumet Road, Milwaukee, WI 53224-3109..

12/16/2016

We were just notified of the passing of the spouse of one of our deceased shipmates. Libby Valovich, wife of World War II shipmate John Valovich, passed away July 26, 2015. John and Libby attended many of our reunions over the years. You may offer condolences to their daughter, Kathy Valovich at 1087A Shoreline Road, Crown Point, IN 46307-9346.

12/09/2016

We regret to inform you of the passing of Angie DePaolo, wife of Dom DePaolo. Angie was the sister of Vilma Scaran, widow of World War II shipmate Chad Scaran. Angie and Dom started coming to Fessenden reunions with Chad and Vilma back in the early days of our Association. Most of you probably remember Dom as the one who made shirts out of dollar bills for our annual gift exchange. After Chad passed away, Dom and Angie made sure that they still came to our reunions with Vilma. Angie was 95 years old and passed away on September 6th.

If you would like to send a note to Dom DePaolo, his address is 641 Lincoln Street, Hazleton, PA 18201-4056. If you would like to send a note to Vilma Scaran, her address is 1447 E. Broad Street, Hazleton, PA 18201.

10/18/2016

Navy Crow

With the advent of railguns, I really hope they consider making another battleship class. They're just so friggin' cool.

NavyCrow.com

09/27/2016

The 2016 convention of the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association is over. The folks from the Fessenden Association had a great time and we encourage all Fessenden crew and family to consider attending the 2017 DESA convention in Albany, NY. Details will be in the next issue of DESA News.

09/25/2016

Ray Elashwich had the aft lookout.