Received, with many thanks, from Gerald “Jerry” McNair, who joined the RCNVR at STAR in 1943 and served as a stoker in the Escort Carrier HMS PUNCHER (Royal Navy but Canadian manned) for almost two years during the Second World War. Jerry worked at Westinghouse as a machinist after the war and among other endeavours, was a volunteer with Friends of HMCS HAIDA.

Captain (N) Martin John “Marty” Pandzich, 22nd Commanding Officer of HMCS STAR (1975 to 1979), crossed the bar on Saturday, 23 July 2022.

Marty joined the UNTD at HMCS HUNTER in Windsor in 1958. He served as STAR’s XO from 1972 to 1975, CO from 1975 to 1979 and, subsequently, as CO of HMCS HUNTER from 1988 to 1991.

The funeral will take place at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church at Herkimer and Locke in Hamilton at 11:00 on Thursday, 4 August, with visitation from 10:00 till 10:55. Following interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 600 Spring Garden Road in Burlington, there will be a reception in the wardroom at HMCS STAR.

Fair winds and following seas, Marty!

The MCDV (Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel) HMCS GLACE BAY visited Hamilton 24-27 June as the first stop on her Great Lakes deployment. Two of her sister ships, KINGSTON & SUMMERSIDE, are leaving Halifax to take part in Op Reassurance activities in the Baltic Sea, while others frequently take part in counter drug operations either in the Pacific or the Caribbean as part of Op Caribbe. The ship was open to visitors and lots of people took advantage of the opportunity to get a look at life in the navy.