IN MEMORIAM
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Since the last issue of OUR TIME, your Editor has learned the following friends and co-workers have passed away:

Henry Kiner, former Maintenance Chief at Anchorage Center died in June 2008.

Beth Vrooman, wife of former Anchorage Area Manager and AF Sector Chief Jim Vrooman, passed away in August 2008 after a long illness.  Jim has moved back to Alaska and now lives in Wasilla.

William "Nic"Nicolo, 88, Former Air Traffic Specialist died of cancer Nov. 27, 2008, at home in Bend, Ore.  He joined the CAA at Kotzebue and  later worked as a relief operator for the CAA/FAA in many areas of Alaska.

Mike Thompson, Former Air Traffic Division Branch Manager,  passed away January 5, 2009 while surrounded by family at his home. He had been fighting cancer for 10 years.

Robert Riedel, 90, former Air Traffic Division Specialist, died Jan. 18, 2009, at a private residence in Point Lookout, N.Y. A strong interest in aviation caused him to snap at an opportunity to work as an air traffic controller. In January 1942, he moved his wife and infant daughter to Alaska, where he worked as the first air traffic controller in the territory of Alaska at the new Merrill Tower. In 1946, he accepted a position as an air traffic controller in El Paso, In 1951, Bob took an instructor position at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, Okla., where he taught until 1957, when the family returned to Alaska. He worked in the FAA regional office and completed over 44 years of federal service.

Anchorage resident Marcelle Gloria Phillips, 88, died Feb. 3, 2009, at Providence Alaska Medical Center. During the war, Marcelle worked for Boeing, inspecting aircraft. She later worked in the Elmendorf Air Force Base parachute shop and was a material specialist for the Federal Aviation Administration for many years. During her career at FAA in Anchorage, she was the Federal Women's Program coordinator for Alaska; she served as chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Committee at the beginning of this movement. "Marcelle was proud to also be an EEO counselor as well as being chair of the Subcommittee on the Status of Women for the Alaska Federal Executive Committee.

Ronald F. DeGarmo, 78, former Anchorage Center Assistant Manager and Regional Office Specialist died Feb. 20, 2009, at his home in Wasilla of natural causes. In 1949, he went to work for the CAA (now FAA). After training in Oklahoma City, he returned to Alaska to work as an air traffic controller in Anchorage. In 1951, he transferred to Goodland, Kansas. Ron continued his career with the FAA working in Muskegon, Mich., Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Atlantic City, N.J., Longmont, Colo., and back to Anchorage from 1977-1982 as the assistant manager of Anchorage Center. He transferred to the Seattle Regional Office where he retired in December 1982. In 1986 he returned to Anchorage Center to manage the contract training program for SRSA for two years and again in 1991 to manage a Russian Controller English program for SRSA.

Mary Smith, 82, died March 26, 2009, at home of natural causes. Mary worked in the FAA Print shop until her retirement in 1980s. After retiring, Mary was instrumental in collecting FAA pictures, stories and memorabilia for the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Transportation Museum.

Thomas C. Dolan, 87, Former Flight Standards Inspector died April 3, 2009, peacefully in his sleep at home.

John Mattson, former Anchorage Center and Air Traffic Division Specialist, passed away May 19, 2009 after a long illness. After leaving the Alaskan Region John spent time in Washington Headquarters. From there he went to Fort Worth as an Air Traffic Division Branch manager and then on to Boston as the Air Traffic Division Manager. At the time of his retirement, John was the Regional Director for the Western Region.

Karl Heiker, 82, died May 23, 2009, at the Alaska Veterans and Pioneers Home in Palmer. He worked for the American Occupation Forces after World War II and immigrated to the United States in 1951, He moved to Cold Bay in 1966. He met and married his wife, Sue, in 1979 in Cold Bay. While in Cold Bay, he worked first for Flying Tiger Line and then the Federal Aviation Administration. He proudly ended his working career as a well-respected magistrate for the Alaska Court System, a position he held for 13 years.

Charles Junior Goshorn, the 8th, former Airways Facilities Electronics Technician died of cancer May 2009 at his Homer, Alaska home. Charles began his CAA career at the Oklahoma City Training facility. He arrived in Nome in April 1951. After serving 19 months in Nome he was selected for a supervisor position in Middleton Island. From there, he transfered to Rocksprings, WY and then on to Pocatello, ID; returning to Alaska in April 1954 at the Anchorage FSS. Charles served as a relief technician maintaining equipment at stations like Galena, North Nenana, Ruby, Biorka Island, and Mosses Point. The next assignment with FAA was an installation technician and crew chief supervisor to install navigation aids equipment including Flight Service Stations. Other assignments included Merrill Field FSS, Talkeetna, Summit, Cold Bay, Bethel, Middleton Island, Hinchinbrook Island, Annette Island, Juneau, Gastravus,Yukatat, Cordova, Attu Island, North Dutch Island, Sester Island, and McGrath. After 17 yrs. of continuous travel he was accepted a position at the Elmendorf Radar Approach Control. He retired Jan of 1979.

Spencer Hill, former Air Traffic Specialist in the Anchorage FSS, ROCC and Flight Standards died at his home in Wasilla June 23, 2009.

Willard Reazin, 77, former Air Traffic Division Manager, passed away July 1, 2009 from cancer.

Ben Zvolonek, Former Alaskan Region Executive Officer died July 18, 2009. Ben and Dottie lived in Olympia, WA and divided their time between Washington and Surprise, AZ.

Clark Fontaine (73) former Anchorage Center controller, passed away in Kalispell, Mt in August 2009.

Buck Willoughby, Former Anchorage Center Staff Specialist, died September 8, 2009.

Bernice Allred, wife of former ROC and Anchorage FSS Specialist, passed away September 3, 2009.

Lyle Brown, former Alaskan Regional Director, passed away September 12, 2009. He served as Regional Director twice. Once in the mid-60's and again in the mid-70's.

Jerry Morrell, former NWS Communications Specialist for the NWS died September 21, 2009 after a long illness. Jerry worked closely with the FAA on many common programs. He and Louise became a fixture at many FAA events including FAA Golf Tournaments and annual get-togethers in Green Valley, AZ

Harold Arab, former Anchorage FSS employee, passed away Friday, October 30, 2009. Harold transferred to the Honolulu FSS where he retired and continued to live in Hawaii until his death.

Bill Dalton, former Air Traffic Division Manager, passed away after a long illness on Friday, November 6, 2009. Bill was the ATD Manager during the early 70's. He Transferred to Washington after leaving Alaska.

Dexter Palk, 81, retired Aviation Inspector, died August 16, 2009 after a four year battle with cancer. His ashes will be scattered in Alaska and Hawaii - where he was born.

Note:  When a new OUR TIME is published People are removed from this page.  You can find out about a person by selecting their name on the Search Page.

FAA Regional Administrator Robert Lewis
Editor, Charlie Muhs