These are all the guestbook messages for 2004. Thank you to all who left messages, memories, and thanks.
I think your web site is great and very informative. As Plane Captain of F 14 Tomcat BU #158617 located at our VFW post in Egypt, PA it has been very helpful to me.
Anyone wishing to to see our F 14 Tomcat Memorial being dedicated it will take place on Memorial Day 31 May, 2004 at 1:00 PM at our VFW Post located in Egypt PA. We are expecting to have a fly over done by several F 14's during the dedication ceremonies. It is a great looking Tomcat, do to the hard work of myself and my plane crew chief.
Hello
My father Patrick Fitzsimons was a Grumman employee out in Bethpage, LI. He was an inspector for over twenty years until he passed away in 1996. I am interested in learning more about the Grumman Memorial as well as the history and about what my father and his fellow workers accomplished. I will never forget the Grumman picnics, everything from the potato sack races all the way to riding the Grumman choo choo train. I hopefully will never loose the jackets, the pins, the stickers or the pictures...but if for some reason I do, I will never forget the stories, the smiles or even more you guys...the heroes. Thank you.
I was wondering how I would be able to contribute to the cause and in the future receive information about the memorial. Thank you.
Raymond Souter, 77, Navy Veteran and Cook
By Tomoeh Murakami Tse
STAFF WRITER
February 3, 2004
Raymond Souter served in the U.S. Navy for 30 years, cooking meals on destroyers during World War II and the Korean War. At home in Patchogue, he would toil in the kitchen and tell tales of the wars and the different places he'd been.
"We liked making him cook pizza" from scratch, said Laurie Krauss, 45, a daughter who lives in Knoxville, Iowa. "He always had so many stories to tell."
Souter, 77, died Jan. 7 in a hospital in Iowa, where he had moved seven years ago to be near family. The cause was leukemia, Krauss said.
Souter was born in Norwich, Conn., and had his mother sign a waiver so he could join the Navy at age 16, family members said. He felt strongly his duty was to serve. He cooked meals for his countrymen, and that job took him all over the world, to Iceland, Japan and Hawaii.
After Souter retired from the service in the early 1960s, he moved his family to Patchogue and went to work for Grumman Corp. and Northrop Grumman as a cook at the Bethpage and Calverton facilities, eventually becoming a supervisor of the cafeteria, Krauss said.
Since moving to Knoxville with Rosalie, his wife of 52 years, Souter dedicated his time to cheering for his grandchildren in school sports.
"He never missed one football game that me and my brother played," said Jared Krauss, 13, adding that his grandfather could often be heard yelling loudly in the stands.
Souter, who had a dry sense of humor similar to Ray Romano's father's character in the TV show "Everybody Loves Raymond," loved playing card games with his family, Laurie Krauss said. He also loved to fish, and even built a 26-foot boat, said Jared, who sometimes accompanied his grandfather on fishing trips.
Souter's favorite fishing spots were Montauk Point and Moriches Inlet, and the family plans to scatter his ashes there, relatives said.
Services were held Jan. 10 at Pine Knolls Country Club in Knoxville. In addition to his daughter, he is survived by Rosalie, 85; sons Mark, 45, of Longmont, Colo., and James, 41, of Lawton, Okla.; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
great site... keep up the great work.
GREAT SITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We were sad to hear about Ray Souter, (supervisor of the cafeteria & and all of food services in Calverton) passing away on Jan 7, 2004. He was a great Boss, great guy, and a great cook, and we had a lot of good times back in the old days out in Calverton.
Staff of Calverton Cafeteria.
I haven't visited the website in a while....anyway, I retired in 2001 with 30 years. Doin' okay. bought a 25' Steigercraft and my brothers are teaching me to fish. Do a lot of snowboarding in the winter. Bought a '73 Volvo p1800es out in Oregon a few months ago. Flew out there with Dick Ferry (used to run Plant 8) and we drove it home cross country. Had a great time. Saw Ernie Manes and Tommy Lancer at the BFCU in Riverhead recently, both are fine. Also see Willie ("owns half the north fork") Zebrowski from time to time. Also John Morrow once in a while.
Hate to bring up bad news, but the following have recently past away:
Joe Mallens and Jack Buffa.
I am trying to find out about my father's work on the LEM program. His name is Rocco Sisto and he passed away this summer (July 25,2004). He worked for Grumman Aerospace for years and retired from there. Can anyone give me more information?
Thanks - GMSisto
I live in France and I just want to tell your memorial park is great! The F-14 is the most wonderful plane in the world! Thank you to all the people who built this plane!
LOVE THE SITE BRINGS BACK OLD MEMORIES (GOOD)
This is for Patrick Fitzsimons, Jr: I knew your father very well. We both worked in Plt. 5 during the space shuttle days. I worked sheet metal there for over 28 years in Plt.5 on numerous programs. Your father was an excellent inspector and and a great gentleman with a good sense of humor. So sorry for your loss!
I was recently on Long Island for a family wedding, and my wife and I drove out to Calverton to relive some great memories - I flew TOMCATs for many years in the Navy (I picked up a new TOMCAT at Calverton in 1974), and I was the C. O. of the NAVPRO (later DPRO) from 1989-1992. We were thoroughly impressed with Grumman Memorial Park. Not enough can be said about the contributions made to America by Grumman. There is almost no way to properly thank the thousands of dedicated workers who built and supported the superb aircraft built at Grumman. But Grumman Memorial Park is a very fitting and wonderful tribute to the company and the many employees who did so much to put so many aircraft into the air to make our country strong and keep us free.
Yes Hello I have a beautiful slide show of the F-14 for all to see at http://www.topsoftware.us/support.htm
As My father worked for Grumman way back PETER J BRENNA Instrumental Engineer
I think the memorial park is a wonderful place to visit and remember those special people that we have lost. I thank the people that take care of the grounds, you've done a great job. My husband used to love to look at the plane and the bricks, now his name is among them. He is a special person. He also fought for our country.
Thanks again.
Just came back from a visit out to the park. Happy to see the ground breaking for the coming A-6. It brings back a lot of memories of my father bringing me out there to watch the planes come and go. My father worked on the LEM at KSC and was a first flight inspector in Calverton on the F-14,A-6 and some work on the F-111.He has many scrap books from his Grumman years. Keep up the good work.
John Petrokiewicz
AFTER SPENDING MANY LUNCH BREAKS WATCHING THE F-14 TAKE OFF AND LAND AT THE CALVERTON FACILITY SEEING YOUR WEB PAGE ONLY INSTILLS INSIDE OF ME THAT THE F-14 IS STILL THE MOST AWESOME AIRCRAFT EVER BUILT AND PUT IN SERVICE FOR THE MILITARY. IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE I WATCHED THE F-14 FROM THE SIDE OF RT.25 BUT I STILL REMEMBER THE CHILLS THAT I GOT EVERY TIME I SAW THEM THANKS FOR THE GREAT MEMORIES AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
12 years of my life went into the production of the F-14, F-14A, E2C, EA6B, F-11 etc. Miss my co workers from plant 2, Bethpage. Wish there was some kind of re-union for us. Anyway, GAC was a great place to work for and produce quality aircraft.
I wanted to let everyone know that my father Carl Geisbert died last June 25 (2003.) He had ALS, but passed away quietly. Carl worked for Grumman for 28 years. He retired in June 1989. (I may be contacted and will pass messages on to my mother Norma.)
I have recently learned about an Apollo 11 Designers, Engineers, and Mechanics Memorial Plaque that was supposed to have been done for the guys who worked on the Apollo 11 Spacecraft. My Father, Woodrow W. Pratt (Shorty) is said to have worked on the Apollo 11 and his name is on that plaque. He worked for Convair/Northrup Aircraft in Palmdale/Lancaster, Calif. in 1957-58. Then he worked At Vandenberg Air Force Base in the 1960's. If any one has any information about this Memorial Plaque in Lancaster, Calif. Please Contact me ASAP.
Grumman Memorial Park is a great idea and I hope it continues to grow. Grumman was part of Long Islands history and we should be proud of the many achievements they have done for this great country of ours.
Nice website. You should add a photo of the other Bethpage marker in front of Plant 2 which shows the building's place in history on Dec. 7, 1941 when the Avenger line was being dedicated. We (Peerless Electronics) now occupy what was the South end of Plant 2. We just moved in (from Lynbrook....we were Peerless Radio and were in Lynbrook since 1960)
Dave Rome
I worked for Tom Rozzi as a sergeant at Plt.18 h.q. from 1967 to1985,when I retired. During those years I was fortunately able to meet such people as Walt Berndt, Ernie von Derheyden, and Col. Gabby Gabreski, who was one of my heroes since WW11 .Now in my 80-s,and living in Virginia, I have many fond memories of those years. Thank you Grumman for giving me a job when I needed one very badly. Warm Regards.
Curt Dolderer
Thank you for giving me a place to visit to remember my father.
I was trying to see if my fathers name was on your website as he worked for Grumman for 14 years up to 1976. We moved to Florida , he used to tell me stories of how he was transferred to Houston in 65-66 for a short time to help on a NASA project with Grumman. I was very proud of him he passed away 3-25-03. Just looking, and I came on this website and it is very impressive.
Sincerely,
Marianne Fernandes
RE: Robert J Fernandes
I started at Grumman in August1967, I remember the quiet reserve of Lew Evans, the exuberance of Corky Meyer and his love of a good joke, and the friendly outgoing "Gabby" Gabreski. What an inspirational bunch. I treasure every moment of my days at Plant 18. I am looking forward to my next visit to L.I. at Christmas from my home in Virginia. I really want to see that Intruder in it's place of honor back home in Calverton. Enjoy reading all the mail from other retirees....Happy Holidays
I LOVE your website. Can you tell me - I'm having company soon and they have expressed interest in seeing a Grumman Museum, if one exists. Can you give me any information?
It was good to see the info on the AF-2S and AF-2W a/c. They were my first "big"a/c to work on and become a plane captain of in the navy. It was 1957 after a 1 year tour with SNJ's that I was assigned to the VS line at Nas Willow Grove and there were 2 each of these a/c left and were being replaced by S2F-1's.The engines were a powerhouse and airframe, fantastic. I worked on those for 8 mos, in fact, I was the only one in the line division assigned to them. Great airplane!
I think my grandfather (also Stanley Ambrozy) had badge number 5. My badge number was 55098 I believe.
A great site and a real dedication to all that work at Grumman on Long Island.
Holiday Wishes to All
May God Bless All.
My Dad, Richard Plunkett was so very proud of his 46 years at Grumman. From the years on LI to the LEM, and back to LI, his love of this company was always apparent; and is still displayed in his framed memorabilia he left me including his sketchings of the Grumman Logo to the picture of the LEM plague, now on the moon.
Thank You Grumman.