Fort Schuyler Magazine Spring 2023

As assistant coach for the hockey team on which he’d played as a cadet, Carbery, along with friend and faculty advisor Steve Miller ’76, appealed the MCAA for a $3,000 donation to cover team uniforms and gear. This elicited an in-kind request from then Association President John Antonetz ’41 who asked Carbery to serve on the MCAA Board of Directors in place of a classmate who was setting out for the U.S. Navy. “I kind of got roped into it to get the money for the hockey team,” said Carbery. “And I’ve been gladly serving ever since.” Carbery’s service on the Board put him on the succession path to his first position of Association President in 1999-2001. Working his way through the capacities of Secretary, Second and First Vice President, Steve learned of the interactions and responsibilities among MCAA Board members and regional Chapters, and the Association’s ties with the Parents Association, President, faculty and other connections within Maritime College. Now he has taken the helm again. Twenty two years since his last administration have seen development of a website, social media proliferation, changes in alumni communication and much more. His prior service on the Board plus his passion for the Association’s mission makes Carbery well prepared. Carbery strongly believes in empowering connections and together, the MCAA and the College are working to build and maintain an effective, efficient database of alumni contact information. “One of the areas we are focused on is getting online access to our database re-established for our members,” explained Carbery. “Networking is near and dear to my heart, and my vision is to make sure we are an organization that provides value to graduates by providing the ability to locate their classmates and network,” says Steve. “We’ve always connected people with jobs and we’re working on ways to leverage our LinkedIn account to connect to a wider group. We’ve had to continually change with the times.”

“ N etworking is near and dear to my heart, and my vision is to make sure that we are an organization that provides value to graduates by providing the ability to locate their classmates and network.”

Alumni hockey game in Rye, NY, (L-R): Steve Carbery ‘80, Bill Ducey ’81, Lou Guzzo ’82, Andy Rosina ’83 and Jeff Hirsch ’84.

He is a firm believer in having a strong committee structure. “Our Board members have committed to serve on at least one committee. We have a multitalented slate of volunteers who support the annual Distinguished Alumni Honors Dinner, two golf tournaments, the MCAA’s Summer Sea Term Scholarship Fund, the Membership, Public Relations/Outreach, Magazine and Finance committees.” Carbery recalls an account that reinforces the timeless value of the camaraderie and connections nurtured and cherished within the MCAA fellowship: “I was honored in 2016 as Alumnus of the Year. Dick Bracken

’56, also a former President, put me up for that and I’ll never forget him for that honor. He was a classmate of my Dad’s, and I remember when he picked me up hitchhiking home in uniform one night years ago. He asked me my name, and I told him ‘Carbery.’ He then asked, ‘You’re not related to Joe Carbery ’56, are you?’ ‘Yes, sir, that’s my Dad – do you know him?’” And so, as he has for four decades, Carbery is ready, able and proud to continue serving his fellow alumni, boldly steering the MCAA into the challenges of the future.

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