"At the first opportunity, he joined the Navy, becoming a naval aviator. He flew PBY Catalina seaplanes throughout World War II's "Battle for the Atlantic."
"Upon his return, Dad took advantage of the GI Bill, studying mechanical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. I was proud to follow in his footsteps there many years later.
"As a Department of the Army engineer, he designed and fielded crew-served weapons. He was never destined to make great fortune, but instead desired to enable every one of his seven children to chart their own course in life. There was no family edict and no coercion. There was simply the unending support for whichever path you chose. Never one to talk about his own performance, Dad instead preferred to bask in the achievements of his family, particularly his children. |
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