Eric Fether:
CLASS OF 1985
Anderson High SchoolClass of 1985
Southgate, MI
United States Merchant Marine AcademyClass of 1990
Kings point, NY
University of MichiganClass of 1989
Dearborn, MI
Eric's Story
Life
Call me for complete details -- 678-460-7581.
Let's see...where to begin. After graduation, I attended U of M Dearborn for a year, before I was admitted into the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY (one of the five Federal Academies). While at the Academy, I enjoyed two Midshipman cruises...which took me to: Alaska, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Okinawa, Guam, Taiwan and Panama (went through the canal four times). Unfortunately, while I was a student at the Academy, I also blew out my left knee (torn ACL)...which later prevented me from entering into any Military Flight program.
Upon graduation, I went into the Navy and served aboard the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) [one of the last Battleships in the world] during the first Gulf War. Upon my return from the war, the ship was decommissioned and I was re-assigned to the USS Samuel Eliot Morison (FFG-13) out of Charleston, SC. This ship was a guided missile frigate, and we spent the vast majority of our time in the Caribbean doing anti-drug ops (and BOY...do I have some stories). I resigned my commission at the end of 1993.
While in Charleston, SC...I met the woman that would become my wife: Sheri Hunt (now Sheri Fether). We married in 1992, and have been together ever since. We married a year before I exited the Navy. In that last year I was out to sea 273 days. I loved my wife more than I did the Navy, so I decided to move on to the next phase of my life.
We have two kids, a boy named Nicholas and a girl named Sydnie.
I now live in Atlanta, GA working for Cisco Systems. Feel free to give me call...would love to get caught up on old times.
School
Let's see...
Biggest crush: No secret...Colette Sheroski. Although in hindsight, was better off not happening. I found the love of my life in Charleston, and I have been happily married for 30+ years.
Inspirational Teacher: Mrs. Richardson. I hate the nickname everyone gave her...she was a wonderful woman and helped me get into the Academy.
Do it over again? Yeah...sure. What the hell. Would have done one or two things differently. Maybe less intense. More out going. Was obsessed with getting into an Academy and my future career...always looking toward the future, and very little time on the here and now. I was recently told that the impression I...Expand for more
left on people in high school was of "being 'laser focused' on my goals." I sometimes wish I was a little less focused and spent more time getting to know people.
Funniest / Happiest / Craziest memories: Let's see ... funniest ... making gun powder in Advanced Chemistry and damn near blowing up the fume hood. Happiest...I enjoyed the Swim Team a lot. Craziest...I just wasn't that crazy in high school. As one person told me...I was 16 going on 47. But I do have fond memories of packing my VW Bug with friends and going out...doing Chinese fire drills at stop lights...and going to Friendly's for ice cream.
College
Well...U of M was boring...was a placeholder to the Academy.
As for the United States Merchant Marine Academy...well...it wasn't Annapolis, but gave me more options then the USNA. It took me a long time to realize how how much a blessing it was to me. As for best roommate / friend...that's super easy - Scott Spears! We keep in touch, and he's a Captain sailing out there somewhere (I envy you at times, my friend).
Workplace
I work for Cisco Systems. I'm a senior Network Solutions Architect in Atlanta, GA. I make very good money, and I'm extremely happy with my work. While I've had opportunities to climb the corporate ladder...I saw the toll those jobs took on other people's families...and I valued mine more than my job. Just like when I was in the Navy...I put my wife and family first in my life. The job was, and is, second to me. The Lord has blessed us with a good home, and good fortune...I could ask for nothing else in my life.
Retirement:
Well, seeing as I am now 57 years of age, I think it may be time to start thinking about retirement. I just bought a large sailboat (picture in photos) that is capable of taking me and the wife around the world. I think sailing the South Pacific for the next 10-20 years may be a nice and quiet way to start retirement (always wanted to dive on the fleet sunk by the atomic testing at Bikini Atoll). Boat should be ready to go by end of 2023 (had a lot of upgrades to do...before going trans-pacific). If you try to find me, and you can't...look to the South Pacific. French Polynesia (Bora Bora, Tahiti), Cook Islands, Fiji, up the Solomons to the Marshalls. Just getting too weird in this world. Time to relax with nature.
Register for Free to view all details!
Reunions