Greetings 78ers…

We once again sadly start this quarter’s installment with the news of one of our classmates passing.

Jeff Cukr shared about Don Haskell’s passing on 11 Oct in Davis CA from diabetes complications. He and Don were close at USAFA and had stayed close over the years. Jeff shares a touching tribute to his good friend and classmate below:

…we took Electrical Engineering classes together at the Academy and did a joint senior design project; we designed and built the voting machine that the department heads used to vote on each of us whether or not we should graduate. I guess we did a good job since we all graduated! In 1980, Don and I rejoined forces to go through the Air Force Institute of Technology, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Warfare curriculum and I became his roommate after 6 months. During AFIT, we went to the O'Club the snowy evening before Thanksgiving in 1981. Other than Don, myself, and the bartender, there was only a former colleague of Don's at the club. In walked a young, female second lieutenant and Don insisted on going over to the bar to meet her and try to pick her up. I, being very tired, reluctantly forced myself to go over to the bar and try to get Don to have pity on me and take me home, as we were carpooling in his car. When I got there, the pretty young lieutenant swiveled on her stool to look at me and engage me in talk while Don was left to talk to his colleague. Don was disappointed, but a gallant loser as I ended up dating and then marrying that lieutenant 6 months later. Don never held it against me that I "stole his girl" and even flew out to Seattle to give me a great bachelor party, just the two of us. Don and I bumped into each other over the years, either on TDY or leave. In the late 80's we once again were stationed at Wright Patt AFB and Don, my wife, and I would hang out together. Often Don would have his current amour join us as well. The periodic TDY/leave meetups continued over the years. The last time we saw Don was at our 35th reunion and that is when Don told us about his illness, but with matter of factness and not a hint of self pity. He told us it had gotten too difficult to travel and wouldn't make it to our 40th reunion. In our talks and texts these last 7 years, Don never talked about his illness and we spoke of our usual topics of conversation (usually guns!). It was as if he wasn't ill. In fact, Don's illness had so faded into the background that I was very surprised and taken aback when his older sister, Debbie called me to tell me the sad news of Don's passing. When I got off the phone to tell my wife, Anita the news, it hit us both hard as our collective memories came flooding back. A best friend lost. Farewell and rest in peace, Don. You are gone, but not forgotten.

Thanks Jeff and our collective condolences to you and Debbie (Don’s sister). As of writing this article, the family is notifying the AOG and an obit should appear on the site soon in the Gone But Not Forgotten section.

As we get to the magic “65” along with COVID challenges, many of our airline classmates have been hanging it up. Timing is everything as the old saying goes. First out of the shoot is Dan Mesnard who hung up the spurs at Delta this past August (19^th) and plans to retire up in the mountains of North Carolina with bride Linda in a 4 bedroom cabin they purchased and possibly get his amphib rating. Overall, he’s looking to get ”bored stupid for about 6 months then figure out what I want to be when I grow up.” The pic below is Dan and Pat Marcesano on one of Dan’s final trips. Tough to see in this shot but some friends “promoted” Dan with an extra stipe as he finished his 35 years up with Delta. 

Dan was the senior 78er at Delta and passed the class seniority on to Rich Terry with Bill Hadaway Pat a few slots behind. Rich and Pat will be staying on a bit longer. Paul Beck is also there but no word on his immediate plans. Bill intended to retire in September as did Craig Gourley. 

Also recently retired from Delta (1 Sep) is Tom Keohane pictured here with bride Amy who sent the great shot. Amy said the retirement was somewhat anticlimactic due to Tom flying his final trip in Marc prior to the virus. His plans are golf, fishing, woodworking, hockey and strangely NO travel. She sadly shared that Ben Troemel’s cancer has returned after being in remission for 10 years this time in his kidneys. Gary Hughes flew for American for decades and sadly has been hospitalized for nearly 6 months with possibly Gilles Barre Disease. He’s learning to walk again after losing nearly 60 pounds and has a long way to go. Our thoughts and prayers are indeed with Ben and Gary. Amy has shared about their MD daughter Andrea in the past who was recently deployed to Travis AFB on a COVID mission. 

The final airline retirement that I was aware of was Jeff Fellmeth who retired from American after many years. He flew the flag he’s pictured with on his final flight and proudly stood with it afterwards. 

Finally, Rick Reaser continues to host USAFA football viewing parties either in his home or that of fellow grads in the L.A. South Bay area for the local AOG chapter (https://www.facebook.com/groups/AOGLAChapter). They actually met for the 40-7 Navy thrash…Steve and Vivie Sargeant were also able to join. I ran out of picture room but will publish the shot next article if there’s room. Everyone is wearing a mask so tough to see who’s who. 

That will be a wrap this quarter…as difficult as this article was to write I certainly pray that everyone is well during these challenging times. Please stay safe out there.

God Bless 

78 is Great!