Greetings 78ers…

Sadly, this quarter’s installment again starts with the news of two of our classmates passing.

Don Keener passed away last year on 5 Dec in Destin, FL. but the announcement wasn’t posted until late Apr after I had already sent in the article. Services were held at the time of his passing in North Carolina with his burial in Stewart Cemetery, Cullowhee, NC. Nancy has asked that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Stewart Cemetery Fund, C/O Carl Stewart; 3295 Yellow Mountain Rd; Cullowhee, NC 28723. His obituary is at https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/9524988/Don-Keener.  Nancy’s address is: Mrs. Nancy Keener; PO Box 488; Destin, FL 32540-0488. Those of us who knew Don remembered his kindness and always available wit.

We also lost Andre Kevork who passed away on 17 May 2020 in Alexandria, VA. As of this writing (late July) funeral services are set to be held on a later date. The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations by check may be mailed to: St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, 4125 Fessenden St., NW, Washington, DC 20016. Condolences may also be sent to his family in care of his sister, Annie: Ms. Annie Kevork-Hammond; 1901 Buckthorn Ln; Reston, VA 20191-5201. Andre’s obit is at:http://asbarez.com/194235/funeral-notice-lt-col-andre-j-kevork/ . Turns out Andre and I we were from the same area in the San Fernando Valley in So Cal and went to high schools about 10-15 miles apart. 

Fair skies classmates.

Got a real letter from Scribe Emeritus TJ “Bahaska” Whitehair with family updates. Daughter Kristina and husband Jake adopted Adelind a few months back. She was born prematurely and only weighed 5 lbs…she’s now up to 7 lbs and doing very well. Son Andrew just finished biz school while his wife Tori is an MD modern day hero running a COVID-19 recovery section at a Cleveland hospital. TJ is enjoying retirement whilst thoroughly enjoying his Second Amendment rights (aren’t we all), riding his Harley and “driving my wife Susan nuts…I’m real good at that after 40+ years” (his words not mine!). Thanks for the letter TJ…always a pleasure to hear from you sir.

Fellow Bulldawger Rick Aulicino recently retired from JetBlue and bride Eva shared some great shots of Rick’s fini flight. He was able to finish up his long commercial aviation career at his hometown airport at Pittsburgh International where he amazingly flew his very first commercial flight as a pilot in 1990. The airport media ran a great article of one of their own on this special occasion here: https://blueskypit.com/2020/07/01/local-pilot-welcomed-home-for-retirement-flight/ . 

Am able to run three shots of Rick’s special day this quarter. The first is the tribute the airport paid to Rick as he taxied in for the last time: 

Then a nice view of the welcome party he received when he walked out of the airplane and down the jetway for the last time.

And finally, a great view of Rick in the “office” with Eva and their kids after the festivities were over. If you read the article it gives an excellent thumbnail sketch of the serious dues Rick paid over the years to arrive to this day. Those that know him understand his tenaciousness and grit. Well done Rick…hope you enjoy retirement, you have certainly earned it.

As was announced last year, Ed Rice and Jack Kucera were selected as AOG Distinguished Graduates (only the second time two selectees from the same class were chosen the same year since the award started in 2001) but due to COVID did not have the formal recognition dinner. The AOG has produced these excellent videos of Ed and Jack in personal, candid interviews.

Congrats again to you both who along with Paul Madera (2015 selectee) have upheld for decades what USAFA is truly about and more importantly how great ’78 is.

Last quarter I made a pitch to please visit our class website ably maintained by Cliff Huff. Please consider this a gentle reminder to review his editing and updates if you haven’t already. Cliff has truly packed the site with great features and links. Take some time whilst many of us still quasi shelter in place to look it over. He continues to solicit pix of the 35^th and 40^th reunions if you can help out…please send to him at cch@sei.cmu.edu.

That’s going to be a wrap for this quarter. My sincere thanks to our contributors and may I subtly remind you lads (as you have heard for years) this article is only as good as the info I receive. Being severally Facebook challenged (as in I don’t have an account) I am almost wholly dependent on the stuff you guys send in. As this COVID situation drags on please stay healthy as we’re near the heart of the envelope in at risk people.

God Bless

’78 IS GREAT!