Captain John Tate Remembered by Friends and Family at URI Graduate School of Oceanography Ceremony

The Tate family presented the late Captain Tate's sextant to Dean Emeritus John Knauss for permanent display at the Bay Campus.

Narragansett, RI -- May 26, 2000 -- In a ceremony attended by many friends, family, faculty, staff, and students at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO), Judith Tate presented her father's sextant for permanent display at the Narragansett Bay Campus. Also in attendance were Captain Tate's wife and sister, Mary Alice Tate and Barbara Tate, former dean of the URI College of Nursing.

The sextant, an instrument used in celestial navigation, was accepted on behalf of GSO by Dr. John Knauss who was school's dean when Captain John Tate was Master of the URI research vessel Endeavor. The sextant, purchased by Tate in 1947, was a premier navigational tool in its day, using the sun and the stars to guide ships through the oceans.

Remembered for his kindness and good humor, Captain Tate was hired as Chief Mate of the research vessel Endeavor in March, 1979, and was promoted to Master in February, 1980. He remained captain of the vessel until his retirement in 1989 at age 70. He died this past February at age 80.

x-x-x

Contact: Lisa Cugini, 874-6642, lcugini@gso.uri.edu