Remembering Angela Chao, a Leader in the Maritime World and Honored Member of the Webb Family
It is with deep sorrow that we learn of the passing of Angela Chao, a distinguished leader in the shipping industry and a cherished member of the Webb community. Angela, the Chair and CEO of the Foremost Group, tragically lost her life in a car accident earlier this week at age 50.
At Webb, we had the privilege of celebrating Angela’s leadership and contributions to the maritime world. Webb awarded her a Doctor of Science (Hon.) degree and inducted her as an honorary alumna into the Webb Alumni Association in 2019. Her Commencement address served to inspire and educate our future leaders in the maritime industry and made a positive impact here at Webb and the world at large.
Joining Angela for that day’s award was her father, Dr. James S.C. Chao, the founder of the Foremost Group, a company that serves as a model for all in the maritime industry with exceptional customer service, superior performance, and pioneering environmentally sustainable practices in the shipping industry.
Angela’s passing is a profound loss not only to her family and the Foremost Group but to the entire maritime industry and the communities she touched. Webb Institute’s Chair of the Board of Trustees, Bruce Rosenblatt, reflected,
Angela represented the very best of our values at Webb – innovation, integrity, and a deep commitment to community. Her vision and compassion will continue to inspire future generations of leaders. As we mourn her loss, we also celebrate Angela’s remarkable life and the great impact she has left on the world. She will be deeply missed, but her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all who had the honor of knowing her and learning from her leadership.
Our thoughts are with Angela’s family during this difficult time.
A leading force in the maritime world, Angela’s legacy is one of grace, compassion, and visionary leadership. Her profound love for her family, community, and the maritime industry shone brightly during her memorable and inspiring speech at Webb Institute in 2019. It was a proud moment for us when our Chairman of the Board, Bruce Rosenblatt, honored Angela with the degree of Doctor of Science (Hon) and inducted her as an honorary alumna into the Webb Alumni Association, a testament to her remarkable contributions and the deep bond she shared with our community. Angela was more than a distinguished guest; she was a cherished part of the Webb family.
Bringing Nutrition Education to Webb
By Kayla Green
Kayla demonstrating proper smoothie-making technique.
Nutrition initiatives in college are crucial for promoting a healthy lifestyle and improving the overall well-being of the student body. I realized the importance of maintaining a balanced diet and making informed food choices when I was in college, and I continue to use what I learned to make health-focused decisions in my life. FLIK, Webb’s culinary service prides itself on putting “wellness center stage.” They provide a wide range of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains on their menus and account for a variety of dietary restrictions and allergies. Having these options readily accessible makes it easier to prioritize nutritious meals and snacks; however, even so, knowing what to eat to maintain a healthy and balanced diet can be difficult.
At Webb, where students are regularly challenged by a rigorous curriculum, packed schedule, and academic stress, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is especially important, but can often fall behind other priorities.
This Spring, the Office of Admissions, therefore partnered with health educators, to educate our community on nutrition. This started with a Monday Lecture from Christina Brockett, MS, CNS, LDN, a licensed Clinical Nutritionist, who offers individual nutritional counseling, group nutritional programs, custom educational talks and presentations, and corporate wellness programs. Ms. Brockett also explored how nutrition impacts mental health. At the Monday Lecture, Ms. Brockett provided Webbies with insight on how to properly fuel their bodies and adopt good habits while trying to meet the demands of Webb’s rigorous academic program. Using Webb’s food menus provided by FLIK, she tailored her presentation to Webb’s current food offerings. Her ability to present the subject in an engaging way, while connecting it to the Webbie experience made the presentation relevant and memorable.
Webbies enjoying nutritional snacks.
Building off of this lecture, I had the opportunity to co-host several mini, cooking classes with Anna Boyd, MS, RD, RND (and Webb Professor Spenser Boyd’s wife), whose field of expertise is in nutrition and dietetics. Final exam season is typically a time when studying takes priority and healthy eating takes a backseat, which can impact student performance. I, therefore, developed a Brain Booster Smoothie Bowl demo series. Smoothie Bowls are a healthy, but tasty snack that can support students with the nutrients needed for a full day of studying.
The goal of these initiatives was to provide information that could equip students with the practical skills, nutritional knowledge, and appreciation for healthy eating. These classes have the potential to shape one’s approach to food and promote a balanced, nutritious lifestyle. By prioritizing the physical well-being of students, colleges can create a supportive environment that fosters healthy habits and empowers individuals to make positive choices for their long-term health and success.
New Student Journey: First Year at Webb
by Hank Wolfe ’26
Over the last year, I have received the honor of becoming a Webbie and learning what the title holds. It’s more than a nickname or label, being a Webbie is a way of life – one that includes the excessive wearing of flip-flops and late night burrito orders. Jokes aside, becoming a Webbie has shined a light for me on the power of community. I came into Webb excited and ready to work but with some hesitation-hesitation about figuring out how I would fit into the Webb family I had heard so much about. The idea of living with a hundred peers seemed daunting. My nerves would settle as I joined my new home.
What a great first year it was! My classmates and I meshed from the start. Laughter became a norm in the design studio. Even on the nights when the homework seemed endless, the optimism and humor of my friends got me through. Learning to have fun and acknowledging the work will inevitably get done is the key to success at Webb. Having fun consists of different things for different people. Sailing is a huge part of it for me. Thanks to the opportunities the Webb sailing team and NEKA have provided, I traveled the east coast to sail, going as far as Key West with Zach Doerr ‘24 for a weekend during our Winter Work term.
The Webb family extends far beyond the classroom. I had the privilege of working at Michael Rybovich and Sons Custom Boatworks under Dusty Rybovich ‘10, the talented foreman, “Flipper,” and the rest of the crew. They eagerly took me under their wing, teaching me all there is to know about constructing sportfishing yachts. The hands-on experience I gained at the shipyard will last me a lifetime. While working in Florida, numerous other Webbies invited me to join them for dinner, and even stay with them for a weekend. The endless generosity from the Webb network was a constant reminder of how lucky I am to be a part of this community.
Going into sophomore year I am looking forward to meeting the next round of freshmen. I hope to lead by example, showing them the responsibilities of being a Webbie. I am excited to dive further into the NAME world, make more memories, and share laughs – all from the comfort of a pair of flip-flops.
Heritage Society Spotlight
by: Dr. Roger H. Compton ’61, PG ’64
Dean Emeritus, Webb Institute
I was introduced to Webb Institute of Naval Architecture quite by accident when I visited our high school guidance counsellor, Mr. Chiles, who was consoling me for not being the primary appointment in my class to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. He handed me a folded piece of paper with an anchor logo on it and said, “you’re interested in boats – you might be interested in this.” Thus began my life-long involvement with Webb.
After an interview with Admiral Haeberle, I was surprised – but delighted – to be offered a position in the Class of 1961 with 20 other young men from all over the U.S. Over the next four years, we bonded as a class, drank beer and ate pizza at Stango’s, struggled through Benny’s math courses and Doc Joe’s chemistry, metallurgy, and thermodynamics courses, and had many tales to tell about our Winter Work experiences. I enjoy telling my friends, who know nothing about Webb’s class size, that I graduated fifth in my class in both high school and college (without explaining that we had almost 600 in my high school class, but only 10 in the Webb Class of 1961)!
My first full-time job after graduation was at Electric Boat (EB) in Groton, CT, during the early days of the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) program. Exciting stuff! After working for a year in the Naval Architecture Department, I applied for a position in the EB Research Department. I was told that I needed more formal education. As it turned out, that was coincident with Webb offering a civilian master’s degree while working part-time in the newly formed Webb Research Department. George Kerr, Webb ’59, classmate Charlie Pieroth, and I were chosen to be in the first class. I was fortunate to have been able to take a couple of courses at Stevens Institute with Dan Savitsky and to be sent to IBM Headquarters in Manhattan to learn FORTRAN. That training allowed me to become the “computer guy” at Webb and to teach a few sessions of programming to Prof. Otto Karst’s junior math students. That experience, along with the superb mentoring of Bob Zubaly (Webb ’55), Norm Hamlin (Webb ‘44B), and Dean Tom Curran (Webb 1925) were instrumental in getting me to apply for a faculty position at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA). During my 32-year tenure, my colleagues and I were able to establish an ABET-accredited major in naval architecture and build a world-class towing tank. Among the great young midshipmen that I had the pleasure to mentor, was Tom Kiss (USNA ’88), the son of Ron (Webb ’63) and June Kiss (Hon.).
While in Annapolis, I became involved in a very active community theater culture and, in 1981, was cast as Curly in Oklahoma! Guess who was Laurie? Jill and I have been together – and making music – ever since. Jill has made my life complete.
In August of 1998 I retired from USNA to accept the best job on the planet – to be the Dean of Webb Institute, while enjoying the shortest commute on Long Island. Although it was difficult to leave USNA and Annapolis, a dinner with Ron and June Kiss at which we discussed our mutual “adventure in Glen Cove,” sealed the deal for Jill and me. We thoroughly enjoyed our 13-year tenure during which we were able to introduce a small craft design experience with a formal presentation to an invited panel of professionals to juniors (SD 1), and to encourage Webbies – students and staff – to enjoy and participate in musical and theatrical activities. We were most proud of the success of the Webb Family Singers (aka the WooFS) and the two fully staged productions at our 2010 and 2011 Homecomings. After officially retiring in 2011 – the 50th anniversary of my Webb graduation – we were delighted to enjoy an encore year to teach a couple of naval architecture courses to the Classes of 2017 and 2019. From about 2005 until 2019, we enjoyed getting to know incoming freshman classes with the freehand drawing “coursette” offered the week before classes actually started.
In December 2016, we sold our boats and home on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and moved to a retirement community in Vero Beach, Florida. What we found was a town with many opportunities to sing, play water volleyball, and ride our bikes. Our two real boats have been replaced by three remote-controlled model sailboats – fun, but not quite the same as the real thing!
We are happy to be charter members of the Heritage Society when we named Webb the beneficiary of a life insurance policy and named Webb, along with my kids, Dawn, and Brian, to divide up the balance of our estate.
Without a doubt, I owe everything that I accomplished in my professional career to Webb Institute.
SOCO: A Year in Review
By Phoebe Garrett ’25 Annabel Bornebusch ’26
(Pictured Left to Right) Students Eliott Ocheltree ‘24, Ryan Krimper ‘26, Steven Katz ‘26, Max Mah ‘24, and Millay Metz ‘26 Performing Jazz Music at a Ruby Lounge Social
This year, students returned to campus in August of 2023 excited to begin a new school year! The first event of the year was a welcome back Community Social to celebrate faculty and students after the first week of classes was completed! Throughout the fall semester, the Social Committee continued to host Community Socials to bring together Webb students, faculty, and staff each month. The Yacht Club socials were especially fun for students and faculty to enjoy the warm weather, the beautiful yacht club and beach, and swimming and fishing in the Long Island Sound.
In October, the freshman class hosted their first Webb event: the annual Halloween party! The party took place in the Pub which was decorated with spooky decorations and had fun halloween-themed food, music, and activities! The costume contest was a highlight of the night where the students with the most creative costumes were recognized!
During the week of Halloween, the Social Committee also hosted a pumpkin carving contest where each class was able to carve a pumpkin for all Webb students to vote on a winner. The Junior Class pumpkin “Wear your PPE… or else” won and they had a pizza party celebration.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it was time for SoCo’s annual Casino Night. The senior class, led by class representatives, Victoria Kim and Erin Postma, planned a magical casino night full of poker, blackjack, roulette, horse racing, arm wrestling, and more! All Webb students were dressed up and had a wonderful night. One of the highlights was the silent auction where students used the Webb casino money they earned throughout the night to bet on the array of prizes displayed at the event.
Following Casino Night’s great success, SoCo had a holiday decorating social where all of Webb’s faculty and students came together to decorate the Visconti reception room with a beautiful winter village and a christmas tree! There was holiday music and many snacks as well.
The SoCo Christmas Party was the last big event of the year. Ugly Christmas sweaters were encouraged for the event and the Webb jazz band played holiday music for the students to dance and sing along. Each class had fun gifting each other with gifts and celebrating the end of the fall semester.
In the spring of 2023, the first event was the annual St. Patrick’s Day party hosted by the Junior class. Festivities included a potato bobbing and potato throwing.
For Pi Day, students participated in a school-wide pie baking competition for a SoCo sponsored froyo trip by baking a pie that was judged on its taste, difficulty, originality, and presentation. The winning submission this year was the beef and stout pie by Will Calli, Miguel Sanchez, and Emma Passariello.
At the beginning of May, students attended the annual Cinco De Mayo party hosted by the Sophomore class. Students packed into the Brocket Arms Pub for Cactus-Cafe catered appetizers, drinks, and dancing. Some sophomore students, including Tyler Zylinski, Luke Foye, and John Feleciano, took on the role of DJ for the fun evening. Events in the month of May also included numerous yacht club socials and a Founder’s Day Social.
To continue a fun spring semester, on June 3, we had Webb’s Annual Webbstock! This year the festivities were fully revived after the pandemic and over 100 guests were in attendance. Everyone got to enjoy eating hot dogs and hamburgers while listening to live music performed by faculty and students as well as a band called “Yesterday’s News” which included Webb alumni Joe Cole (class of 1992). Students were also able to enjoy singing some karaoke, and rotating through the various lawn games, especially a new Webbstock Cornhole Tournament. Many students enjoyed racing through the inflatables, which included a 65-foot obstacle course and a double water slide. The class of 2008 sponsored the event in loving memory of their classmate, Johanna Lee Exner. During her time at Webb, Johanna was very involved in the Webb Social Committee and worked extremely hard to plan events such as Webbstock. It was extremely fitting for Webb’s largest event of the year to be held in her memory. A big thanks to the class of 2008, and we think that Johanna would have been very proud!
Group Photo of Webb Students, Faculty, and Guests at Webbstock 2023
On June 19, students dressed up in elegant evening attire to attend a fun-filled Great Gatsby-themed night. After a fancy dinner, students opened their bottles of champagne to a beautiful sunset. Students also played croquet and listened to music performed by a swing band, with a special feature by Max Mah ‘24.
Kasey Kennedy ‘23, Phoebe Garrett ‘25, & Annabel Bornebush ‘26