Shipmates on Eternal Patrol
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Listed below are Chivo shipmates that have recently departed on Eternal Patrol, and those shipmates whose deaths I have just learned about. I have published their obituary if it was available. |
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LT LeRoy T. Collins, Jr. (1958-1960) departed July 29, 2010.
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Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr., executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, was killed Thursday, July 29, 2010, when he was hit by a driver while riding his bike in Tampa. He was 75. Collins, the son of former Florida Gov. LeRoy Collins, was crossing a street when he was hit by an SUV just before 7 a.m. Collins had a home on Davis Islands in the Tampa area. He is survived by his wife, the former Jane Sisson of Tampa, two daughters, two sons and eight grandchildren. Gov. Charlie Crist, who appointed the retired Navy and Navy Reserve admiral to head up the state’s veterans affairs agency, announced Collins’ death during a Cabinet meeting. "The Collins family in Florida is synonymous with public service," said Crist. "It’s a tremendous loss, and a great sadness." Crist later requested that all flags at the Capitol, Veterans Affairs buildings, and all state buildings, courthouses and city halls in Hillsborough County be lowered to half-staff. Collins ran for U.S. Senate in 2006, but lost in the Republican primary to then-U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris. |
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Collins’ father was a legendary liberal Democrat, who was governor from 1955 to 1961 and was one of the few early white advocates of civil rights in the South. But the younger Collins had been a Republican for more than two decades. In 2006, when he was running for Senate, Collins recalled that his father "gave me hell" when he switched to the GOP, after feeling like the Democratic Party no longer represented his beliefs. During that campaign, the younger Collins told the St. Petersburg Times that he thought his father, who died in 1991, would likely have remained a Democrat, but had beliefs closer to the modern Republican Party.
After Collins’ death Thursday lots of praise flowed from several quarters. Attorney General Bill McCollum, who also learned of his death during the Cabinet meeting, called Collins an "exceptional public servant" and noted that he moved from serving the country in the Navy to working for veterans in state government. "He dedicated his life to public service," McCollum said. "He’s going to be missed." McCollum suggested that a new veterans home in St. Augustine be named for Collins.
AARP Acting State Director Jeff Johnson said Collins played a major role in getting a new veterans’ hospital in Orlando as well, and noted that at his death, Collins was the oldest currently serving secretary of a state agency. "With the death of Adm. LeRoy Collins Jr., Floridians have lost a leader and advocate who worked effectively on behalf of older veterans," Johnson said.
"Admiral Collins’ awful and unexpected passing is extremely upsetting to so many Floridians who share in this tragic loss," said Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, the chairman of the state Republican Party. "Like his mother and father before him, Admiral Collins truly embodied a life of service to others. From his decorated service in the United States Navy and Naval Reserve and respected career as a businessman, to his advocacy for and representation of our state’s veteran population, their families and survivors, Admiral Collins lived an exceptional story that will always have a place in both the history of our great state and in the hearts of all who knew him."
EN3(SS) George "Russian" "York" Yevchinecz (1949-1952) departed July 17, 2010.
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George "Russian" Yevchinecz passed away Saturday night about midnight. George spent ten years as an engineman on diesel boats and then became an American Airlines pilot on international air routes for many years. George and his wife, Louise, attended our reunions in 2001, 2003, and 2005. In 2005 George donated this really beautiful, large Chivo model that we have raffled off at every reunion since then. George asked that his donation be anonymous, but I think that now the crew should know just how generous he was. Raffling that model at each reunion has raised over a thousand dollars for our reunion fund. We will long remember George and his generosity. |
CS1(SS) Jack L. Baird (1949-1951) departed July 13, 2010.
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MM2(SS) Robert W. Rourk (1964 -1966) |
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EM3(SS) Michael L. Gore (1956 -1959) departed May 11, 2010.
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Michael Lee Gore departed peacefully on eternal patrol while surrounded by his family on Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at the age of 72 after a courageous five-year fight with multiple health problems. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Friday at Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 2100 N. Davis Drive, Arlington. Interment: Michael's cremains will be interred at a later date in the St. Maria Goretti Cremains Garden. Vigil: 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the church. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations to Mission Arlington will be sincerely appreciated. Mike was born in Shelbyville, Ind., on Aug. 13, 1937, to James and Catherine Gore. The Gore family relocated to Arlington when Mike was just 4. He graduated in 1955 from Laneri Catholic High School, from which he still maintains many friendships. Much to his mother's dismay, Mike then joined the U.S. Navy where he served for three years, 10 months and 11 days, as he liked to tell others. He qualified for submarine service, serving on the USS Chivo (SS-341). |
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Following his discharge from the service, Mike attended Arlington State College for three years and then received a marketing degree from North Texas State University. Securing the first step in his career prior to finishing college, Mike joined IBM's office supply division, selling a product that some might remember as a typewriter. After five years with IBM, Mike joined Merrill Lynch, from where he retired in 1999 as an assistant vice president and financial consultant. In 1964 he married Bonnie Sue Beebe, Miss Arlington of 1962. She was his beloved wife for 45 years. If you were not onboard Chivo with Mike, you may still remember him and Bonnie from our 2001 and 2003 reunions. Mike was a good shipmate and he will be missed. |
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FTG3(SS) Seth D. Joy (1964 -1966) |
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In accordance with his wishes |
EN3(SS) Andrew Larry Hendrix (66-69) departed March 13, 2010.
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RMC(SS) Walter C. Schoenecker (1962-1964) |
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QM1(SS) Carl W. Weaver (1959-1963) departed January 16, 2010.
FN(SS) William D. "Doug" Petty (1964-66) departed December 12, 2009.
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FN(SS) Maurice V. Threinen (1945-1946) |
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QM3(SS) John Cabell Ethridge (1945-46), Plankowner, departed December 13, 2008.
LCDR James K. Wills (49-51), Chivo's 4th Commanding Officer, departed March 3, 2007.
Eternal Father, Strong to Save
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Eternal Father, strong to save, |
Lord God, our power evermore, |
Bless those who serve beneath the deep, |
