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News, Events & More

Class Wellness Tip #1 for 2026: 2nd Opinions

Posted: 1/6/2026

We compare options when we shop for everything from laptops to lawnmowers, skimming reviews and weighing our choices. Yet when a doctor recommends a surgery that will change our bodies forever, many of us say “yes” on the spot. We treat the most consequential choices of our lives with less scrutiny than a $150 purchase on Amazon.

Medicine isn’t math. Two specialists can read the same results and see different stories, shaped by training and philosophy. A cardiologist may lean toward a stent and a functional doctor might start with diet and medication. Both can be reasonable, but neither is absolute.

A second opinion can spare an unnecessary procedure or confirm the right one. Yet many patients hesitate, unsure how to ask or whether it will offend their doctor. Learning when to pause and seek another view may be one of the most valuable skills in modern medicine.

Why 2nd Opinions Matter More Than Ever…Click HERE to read more.

The Class of ’66 has posted this article regarding the utility of obtaining second medical opinions, because (1) the cited numbers/data lend merit to considering doing so under certain circumstances and (2) all of us “rate” VA medical services but not all have used that vehicle. Signing up for VA health care may be a convenient and low cost way of obtaining that second opinion. The article includes links to other recent articles related to helping us have a better understanding of the medical process (e.g., blood tests and what they mean).

For more information curated for Classmates, Wives and Widows, Click HERE for the Class Wellness Portal addressing:

• VA
• Lifestyle
• Travel
• Health Care
• Financial Planning
• Caregiving, Hospice, End of Life

1966 Photos of WINNING Army Navy Game!

Posted: 1/5/2026

Classmates from USNA Class of 1966 were on hand to sing second at the 13 December 2025 Army Navy Game in Baltimore. With a final score of 17-16, Navy got its second straight victory over Army (6-6), and the Midshipmen won the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for a second straight season.

Following are photos submitted by Classmates of the incredible game. If you would like to share your photos of ’66 attendees at the game or any Army Navy Grame parties, please email them to USNA66webmaster@gmail.com.

Update from Jim Long, Class President

Posted: 12/19/2025

• Minutes of 17 Nov Council of Class Presidents’ Meeting
• Alumni/Family Health & Well-Being Support Committee Update
• Known Class Capabilities Table

REMINDER: 12 December Wreaths Across America 2025

Posted: 12/11/2025

Dear Alumni, 

On Friday December 12, 2025 at 09:00 we will gather at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium to take part in the meaningful tradition- Wreaths Across America. This powerful event brings together volunteers from all walks of life to lay veterans’ wreaths on the graves of our nations heroes, a gesture of remembrance and gratitude for their selfless service.

This year’s theme is “Keep Moving Forward.” By connecting this theme to the Wreaths Across America mission to remember, honor, and teach, we are recognizing those who continue to live with purpose every day and have chosen to keep moving forward by placing wreaths on the final resting places of our service veterans. We acknowledge that their sacrifices are not forgotten and that their stories live on through us.

Wreaths are $17@. For every 4 wreaths you buy, USNA will automatically get the 5th wreath for free. Every donation, no matter the size, directly honors the fallen at USNA. To Donate, select one of 3 options:

The Naval Academy ceremony, made possible through Wreaths Across America, holds a special place in the hearts of countless individuals touched by the sacrifices of our brave servicemen and women. It is through our collective effort that we can ensure their memories live on and inspire future generations. Join us in the noble cause and let us demonstrate that the spirit of remembrance can heal hearts, forge connections, and honor the heroes who have shaped our nation’s history.

Thank you for your help, we cannot accomplish this without your donations.

Carol Turman
Coordinator, Wreaths Across America USNA
2430 Kemper Rd
Crofton, MD 21114
443-336-6541

Bruce Bickel, Funeral 13 December, Pittsburgh, PA

Dr. R. Bruce Bickel passed away peacefully in the morning on Monday, November 24, 2025. In his own words, his time here came to an end “not a moment too soon or a moment too late.”

One can’t talk about Bruce’s life without speaking of the Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1966 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and where he played quarterback for the Naval Academy football team. While there, he received the Midshipman of the Year Award from the Annapolis, Maryland Chamber of Commerce and also the Thompson Trophy, awarded to the graduating senior of the Naval Academy who had done the most to promote intercollegiate athletics. “Go Navy. Beat Army,” was a constant, lighthearted refrain.

After graduating, he served as a naval gunfire officer in the Vietnam war, an experience that he didn’t speak about much except perhaps to mention the orphanage he helped to build while there and that the injuries he sustained during a rescue mission sent his life on an alternative path. Instead of pursuing his dream job as a Navy Admiral, he obtained his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Theology from Luther Rice Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia and Oxford, England. He served as senior pastor in churches in Kansas and Illinois and in several capacities with the Fellowship of Christian Athletics.

His path changed again when he took a job at PNC Bank in Pittsburgh in order to be closer to his aging parents. There, he served as Managing Director of the Private Foundation Management Services Group of PNC Wealth Management, while also pastoring several local churches in the Pittsburgh area on an interim basis. Through his Christian faith and the Bible studies he created and led, he touched many lives. Bruce loved and lived the scriptures. He was a gifted teacher. He had a gift of taking difficult Biblical passages and then explaining them in short memorable phrases that made them understandable- known as “Bickelisms.” He was a fervent believer of the core beliefs of Protestant Reformation- scriptures alone, faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, to the glory of God alone.

Bruce is survived by his devoted wife, Dr. Rebecca Bickel; two loving stepchildren, Bill Morris and Amelia Morris; a son-in-law, Matthew Bookman; two grandchildren, Teddy and Isaac; nephew, Bart Bickel; niece, Molly Pearce and her two children, Anna and Ben; and last but certainly not least, a large Bernedoodle named Pax.

All are welcome to attend his memorial service on Saturday, December 13, 2025, 11 AM at Mt. Lebanon Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 255 Washington Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15216. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306, www.t2t.org. Arrangements entrusted to WILLIAM SLATER II FUNERAL SERVICE, Scott Twp., 412-563-2800. A link to stream his memorial service will be on his obituary page on the funeral home website.

William Slater II Funeral Service
1650 Greentree Rd
Pittsburgh, PA 15220
(412) 563-2800

https://obits.slaterfuneral.com/roger-bickel

Lost Families Project – Seeking ’66 Classmates

Posted: 12/1/2025

Dear Class of 1966:

I am reaching out on behalf of Run To Honor, a U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation shared interest group. As a longtime USNAAA&F partner responsible for the maintenance, upkeep, and accuracy of Virtual Memorial Hall, we are best positioned to take on the duty of reconnecting the USNA family with those of our fallen who have lost contact with the association. Specifically, for the Class of 1966, we are trying to contact the families of:

• Leroy Bates, Jr.
• Walter C. Blekicki
• Thomas J. Boyle, Jr.
• Nicholas G. Brooks
• Thomas E. Brunk
• Larry V. Chmiel
• Kevin D. Clancy
• John W. Consolvo, Jr.
• Raymond C. Daley
• John W. Doherty
• John P. Emmett, Jr.
• Clinton J. Farmer
• Bruce C. Fryar
• Robert D. Huie, Jr.
• Kenneth J. Kirby
• George W. Lineburg
• Dean Matzko
• James B. McLendon
• William A. Miller, Jr.
• William T. Morris, III
• Michael A. Odening
• Orland J. Pender
• Beverly T. Richardson
• Leland C. C. Sage
• Andrew L. Sekan
• Arthur W. Staecker
• Benjamin Tappan, III
• Douglas Vaughan
• Thomas L. Walls
• Charles Warner
• Marvin B. C. Wiles
• Richard C. Williams
• Michael C. Wunsch

The Lost Families Project’s primary driver is getting next of kin back to Annapolis for the Honor Our Fallen Heroes Weekend, held each year around Veterans Day, in which Gold Star Families are welcomed back to Annapolis for a Friday evening social, a Saturday morning memorial service, a catered tailgate reception, and recognition with a moment of silence during the home football game while their loved one’s name is displayed on both Jumbotrons in Navy-Marine Corps Stadium. Among the volunteer escorts privileged to host the families are dozens of midshipmen, Run To Honor board members, and class officers.  The association recently released this video on YouTube covering the 2025 event.

While we have been successful on numerous occasions tracking down family members one-by-one, we believe class officers and intra-class connections are the key to recontacting families en masse. We would be thrilled if you would help us in our search, as your classmates will most likely be the key to getting a parent or sibling back to Annapolis. To support this effort, we have created a Google form to collect and catalog the requisite information at runtohonor.com/lostfamilies.

Click HERE for a one-page primer that describes the project’s background, scope, and goals. This project is fully endorsed by USNAAA&F, and can be validated through CAPT Wesley Huey ’87, USN (Ret.), Ph.D., Executive Director, Strategy and Legacy Programs (wesley.huey@usna.com).

For any other questions or comments on the project itself, please contact president@runtohonor.com and josh@runtohonor.com. I am always happy to take a call, and can be reached by phone or text at (410) 212-8255.

Beat Army!

Josh
Commander (Ret.) Josh Angichiodo ’06
runtohonor.com usnamemorialhall.org

Request from Class Prez RE USNA Cemetery

Posted: 11/11/2025

Class of 1966 President, Jim Long (14th Company), requested that Classmates take a moment to read and consider the following:

The United States Naval Academy Cemetery’s Wreaths Across America initiative is coming up short for wreaths this year. We are around 700 shy of the total of 2,900 needed. If you can spare the change please help out. Each wreath is $17 and by going to this site, Click HERE, for every three wreaths you buy USNA will get the 4^th for free. You need not do anything extra to accomplish this, it is automatic.

One can also write a check (place MD0011 in the Memo line) and mail to:  Wreaths Across America, PO Box 249, Columbia Falls, ME 04623.

Please join us in making sure that no hero buried at the USNA Cemetery goes unremembered, your generosity helps keep this important tradition alive.

If you would like to participate in the ceremony and laying of the rememberance wreaths it will take place on FRIDAY, 12 December 2025. The ceremony and remarks start at 0900.  

4 Nov Zoom on Basis For/Against Attacks on Drug Boats

Posted: 11/2/2025

Pete Hegseth posted on his X account that the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in the Caribbean 10/24/25

Rick Grant (20th Company) has offered to provide a presentation to the Class of 1966 regarding one of the current topics of interest: basis for/against attacks on drug boats in the Caribbean etc. Rick proposes to draw upon his prior experience with these issues from when he served as the head of the NCIS in his pre retirement years. … He would do this on the ZOOM session for Tuesday 4 Nov 1400. 

In addition, and if of interest, he would follow this up with some observations from his 20+ years as being part of the Florida Military Academy Selection Boards. Based upon this extensive time interviewing Florida High Schoolers Competing for Service Academy Appointments, he proposes to provide some possibly useful insights into the process, at least that in Florida. This offers not only a broad perspective on that process, Rick’s comments might provide assistance to those who have grandchildren ( great grandchildren) seeking appointments. 

If you are a 66-Classmate, wife or widow, new to the Class Zooms and would like to participate, Click HERE for details.

ZOOM session Tuesday 4 Nov 1400 EST

Ben Anderson, Arlington National Cemetery 12 Nov 2025

Posted: 10/31/2025

Col. Ben L. Anderson, Jr., U.S. Army, Retired, 82, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma passed away early Thursday morning, June 12, 2025, at Bartlesville Assisted Living.

Ben Lamar Anderson, Jr., was born April 2, 1943, in Bisbee, AZ to Ben, Sr. and Mary Jane (Newell) Anderson. Ben was raised Catholic and attended Jesuit School. As the son of a military man himself, Ben lived many places while growing up, including Germany, where he graduated high school. West Point would not accept his transcript, so he attended and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Ben also attained two master’s Degrees, including one from Georgetown University in Germanic Linguistics and he wound up teaching at West Point Military Academy. Colonel Anderson proudly represented his country as a member of the United States Army, serving in the Vietnam conflict. He was stationed in several locations, including Germany, state-side in Virginia and his last station at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt. The former Army Ranger retired after more than 28 years of honorable service. Colonel Anderson moved to Bartlesville just ten months ago and was a resident of Bartlesville Assisted Living.

Ben was highly educated and loved learning. He was passionate about his politics and loved horses, especially the Arabian breed. Colonel Anderson had his private pilot’s license and enjoyed flying. He once owned a buffalo named “Snuggles”.

Survivors include four children, Ben Anderson and his wife, Teresa of Denver, Colorado, Mary Anderson Duarte and her husband, Marcello of Del Mar, California, Chris Anderson and his wife, Katie of Bartlesville and Heather Anderson Willingham and her husband, Mitchell of Gainesville, Texas; two sisters also survive, as well as ten grandchildren.

To send an online condolence, visit https://www.honoringmemoriesbartlesville.com/obituaries/col-ben-anderson-jr.

’66 Classmates Requested to Escort Gold Star Families

Escorts help to enrich the experience for the family of our fallen heroes, and reinforce our bonds as Classmates and as USNA alumni. Last year, we had four Classmates honored in the event with families in attendance:

• Ben Tappan
• Mike Wunsch
• Doug Vaughan
• Pat Buckley

So far for this year, we have families and friends of Doug Vaughan and Pat Buckley signed up to come.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to serve.  

Any questions should be directed to:
Captain Wes Huey USN (Ret.) @ the USNA Alumni Association
Wesley.huey@usna.com (410) 295-4023

• USNA Website
• NavySports.com

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Class of 1966 - NON SIBI SED PATRIAE