Michael Alston was born in Boston, Mass., and raised In Providence, R.I., where he graduated from Central High School. In 1983, he graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y., with a Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.

For the past 27 years, Michael served Military Sealift Command at headquarters in the Prepositioning Program, the Sealift Program and in Engineering, as well as at MSC subordinate commands in Italy and Japan. He was a valued member of the MSC team and will be greatly missed.

Michael is survived by his wife, Michelle, daughters, Maya and Mira, and grandson, Tyson.
- - - MSC Memorial Service 7/28/11

Donations Accepted

Fellow Classmates,
I'm sure that most of you have received the tragic news that Michael Alston passed away in early July 2011.

Michael worked at Military Sealift Command since 1984. He was a wonderful colleague and friend to all of us at MSC.

We have taken up a collection at work and plan to make a donation to the USMMA Alumni Foundation, designated for the Michael Alston '83 fund. This is a restricted fund that we can decide how to use in memory of Michael.

The first $150 donated to this fund will be used to pay for the plaque that will be placed in the Memorial Arbor and dedicated during our 30th Reunion weekend in 2013. We will poll the class for recommendations on where to allocate the balance of the fund as we approach our 30th Reunion. One thought is to designate the monies in this fund to support of the USMMA Color Guard. Michael was the Color Guard Commander during our 1st Class year.

It is very easy to make your donation on-line at USMMA Alumni Foundation

Be sure to designate your donation to the "Michael Alston '83 Fund."

Alternatively, you can make your donation via check made payable to "USMMA Alumni Foundation", with a note in the memo line that the donation is "Restricted to the Michael Alston '83 Fund."

Checks can be mailed to:
USMMA Alumni Association and Foundation
P.O. Box 222011
Great Neck, NY 11022

Please consider making a donation in memory of Michael Alston, or any of the other 7 classmates we have lost since graduation.

If you have any questions regarding the fund or your donation, you can contact either Lisa Donitz (lisa.donitz@alumni.usmma.edu or 516-482-5274) or Gregg Matalas (Gregg.matalas@alumni.usmma.edu or 516-773-5544).
Fraternally,
Erin Gantt '83 and Chris Thayer '83