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At random: "Of all the branches of men in the forces there is none which shows more devotion and faces grimmer perils than the submariners." Sir Winston Churchill

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Coyote

Posted 2026-03-19 5:00 PM (#105996)

Master and Commander

Posts: 1409

Location: NE Florida

Subject: Thursday Obits

https://www.facebook.com/ussvi.eternalpatrol/

The above link goes to the USSVI (United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.) Facebook page where their members who have gone on “Eternal Patrol” are noted.

I’ll keep my work here going, trying to get others who were not USSVI members. You’re encouraged to look there as well as here! Obviously, there’ll be some I miss and some I duplicate.

MADISON .. .. .. Lynn Jay Madison of Milton, Florida passed away at the age of 86 leaving his beloved wife, three children, two grandchildren, five great grandchildren and a strong network of friends.
He hailed from Spokane, Washington and the west stayed close to his heart as he moved east to attend the Naval Academy (1963) and marry Kathryn Falcone, a Jersey girl. He was notably wise and read voraciously throughout his life, from endless Jack London to the accounts of Arctic exploration he favored in later years. He was also quietly generous to his friends and had a soft spot for an animal in need of rescue. A brigade boxing champion and an expert rifle and pistol marksman, he learned to sail and developed a deep affinity for the open sea in the Navy. Jay went on to see the world, in Vietnam War service, and thirty years with Delta Airlines. He earned National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam service Medal, and multiple Air Medals in his military service. He was in a submarine off Cuba during the Missile Crisis and was known by his peers as the master of pivoting a submarine to dock. When he retired from Delta Airlines, this skill proved handy as the captain of his wooden sloop, with Kathy as his first mate. While his boat had an engine, Jay considered it a last resort and mastered sailing on and off the mooring as a matter of principle. He and Kathy lived in Florida but roamed the eastern seaboard from Buzzards Bay to the Bay of Fundy, giving generations of family and friends the captivating experience of coastal exploring under sail. They eventually settled upon the working harbor of Jonesport for a hub and a hilltop home on Great Wass Island, an aerie with an expansive view of down east Maine. For those who loved him, it feels right to think of him, face to the wind and bow to the open ocean, hands steady at the helm, and his freedom-loving heart soaring with each cresting wave.

MARTIN .. .. .. Ledyard - Captain William Leicester Martin III (U.S.N., Ret.), 79, of 56 Churchill Road, Ledyard, died on Nov. 17, 2006, at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital after a two-week illness.
Capt. Martin was born on Dec. 19, 1926, in Alexandria, Va., the son of William Leicester Martin Jr. and Helen (Blake) Martin. He attended schools in Alexandria and was graduated from George Washington High School. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., and was graduated on June 3, 1949. On that day, he married the former Shirley Anne Blair of Hartford, in Alexandria, Va.
His first assignment was the USS Damato (DDE871) of Destroyer Squadron Eight based in Norfolk, Va. He served as antisubmarine warfare officer and subsequently as assistant engineer. In June of 1951, he reported to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for duty under instruction in naval architecture and marine engineering. Upon completion of that course, he attended the U.S. Naval Submarine School in New London. Capt. Martin served in USS Harder (SS568) of Submarine Squadron Ten, first as supply officer and then as engineer. He qualified in submarines in 1956.
Upon being designated as an engineering duty officer, he reported to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, N.H., and was ship superintendent for the early construction phases of USS Swordfish (SSN579) and USS Sea Dragon (SSN584). He then returned to M.I.T. for instruction in nuclear engineering. After that duty, he served in a series of assignments at headquarters and in the field for the Bureau of Ships and the Atomic Energy Commission. He was especially proud of the many years he spent in Naval Reactors working for Admiral Hyman G. Rickover. These assignments included duty with advanced developments, the prototype plants, Naval Reactors offices in Quincy, Mass., and Groton, and finally as head of reactor core production.
In 1969, he became project manager for the acquisition of the USS Knox (DE1052) class of escorts and served in that capacity for the next three years. Then in December 1972, he reported to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., as production officer. Capt. Martin became the Supervisor of Shipbuilding Conversion and Repair, U.S.N., Groton, in September 1976. He retired from the U.S. Navy in 1980.
Bill's integrity and work ethic were legendary wherever he went. He spent his life in service to others and influenced many lives. He was devoted to his country, the U.S. Navy, and his fellow men. His wife of 57 years survives.

GRIESEL .. .. .. Donald Ernest Griesel, 83, a former resident of St. Maries, Idaho, passed away March 3, 2026, at Life Care Center in Post Falls, Idaho.
Don was born October 19, 1942, in Bloomfield, New Jersey, to Henry and Ellie Griesel. He graduated from Bloomfield High School and soon after entered the United States Navy in 1960, beginning what would become a long and distinguished 20-year military career.
During his first ten years in the Navy, Don served aboard various submarines, a challenging assignment that suited his adventurous and determined spirit. He later spent the next decade working with deep submergence vehicles, an elite and specialized field within the Navy. Among the highlights of his career, Don spent three years assigned to the Bathyscaphe Trieste, the world's deepest-diving manned submersible capable of reaching depths of 20,000 feet. It was an experience he remained proud of throughout his life, and his service to his country was something he carried with great pride.
While stationed in Hawaii, Don married Joan Cardone in Honolulu. Together they built a life and raised two sons, Robert and Donald. Following his retirement from the Navy in 1980, Don moved his family to St. Maries, Idaho, where he embraced the rural lifestyle he loved. With the help of his family, he developed 20 acres of land and built a log home, creating a place where many memories were made.
Don was a straightforward, no-nonsense man who enjoyed the simple things in life-especially the outdoors. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and took every opportunity to spend time in the mountains and woods. He also enjoyed water skiing and made trips to Mexico where he loved fishing and relaxing by the water.
In the St. Maries community, Don became well known for his spirited opinions and his frequent "Letters to the Editor" published in the Gazette Record. Never one to shy away from a debate, he had a reputation for speaking his mind and "stirring the pot," something he did with enthusiasm and conviction. Whether the topic was local issues or national politics, Don enjoyed the discussion and the exchange of ideas.
Don is survived by his sons, Robert (Mindy) Griesel of St. Maries, Idaho, and Donald (Amy) Griesel of Spokane, Washington; his grandson, Andrew (Amy) Griesel of Colorado; and his great-grandson, Ziggy Jay Griesel. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan; his parents; and his brother, Eric Griesel.

MURRAY .. .. .. Terry Murray, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on March 15, 2026. Born in 1942 to George T. Murray and Maxine Spry Murray in Columbus, Ohio, Terry lived a life defined by curiosity, dedication, and a quiet warmth that touched everyone fortunate enough to know him.
Growing up in Columbus, Terry was a boy who never sat still for long. He was active and adventurous from the start — exploring with the Boy Scouts, getting his hands dirty repairing vehicles, and feeling the open road beneath him on his motorcycle. It was at Linden McKinley High School where the most important chapter of his life truly began: a young man catching the eye of a girl named Sandra Rau. The two would become inseparable.
Terry and Sandy married on June 13, 1964, immediately after Terry earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University. Active in ROTC, he received his commission in the United States Navy and set his sights on becoming a fighter pilot. Life had a different plan.
Called to interview with the legendary Admiral Hyman Rickover — the father of the nuclear Navy — Terry found himself redirected into one of the most elite and demanding roles in the military: nuclear engineering. He served aboard the USS James Madison, a Polaris missile submarine, and became one of the very few people who could parallel park a nuclear submarine. It was a career defined by precision, responsibility, and no small amount of skill.
Terry and Sandy embraced Navy life together, settling first in Boston Spa, New York, and later in Charleston, South Carolina. Sandy, a dedicated schoolteacher, made each new place a home. It was during this time that their first daughter, Nicole, was born. But the long months at sea took their toll, and Terry decided to bring his family home to Ohio, where their second daughter, Michelle was born.
After joining Toledo Edison, Terry put his nuclear expertise to work in the civilian sector. Terry’s career advanced steadily through the engineering ranks — from the Bay Shore coal plant in Oregon, Ohio, to Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station near Oak Harbor, where he spent the bulk of his career, starting as an Operations Engineer and ultimately serving as Plant Superintendent — a capstone to a distinguished engineering career built on integrity and expertise.
Retirement, however, was never quite Terry’s style. He joined Stadler and Associates as a forensic investigator, traveling across Michigan and Ohio to determine the causes of fires for insurance claims. It was work that suited him perfectly — methodical, purposeful, and always in pursuit of the truth.
In their later years, Terry and Sandy became snowbirds — savoring Ohio summers and spending much of the school year in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. There, they found a new joy in the everyday rhythms of family life: getting their granddaughter Zoe to school and playdates and afterschool activities, supporting her every interest.
Terry and Sandy were faithful members of Calvary Lutheran Church in Northwood, Ohio, where their community of friends and fellow believers was a steady source of meaning and connection throughout their lives. In Florida, they joined Christ Episcopal Church in Ponte Vedra, where they thoroughly enjoyed worship and bible study in a vibrant spiritual community.
He chased salmon on the Great Lakes, roared across snowy trails on a snowmobile with his closest friends, cheered on the Buckeyes, enjoyed a round of golf, and was never one to turn down a hand of euchre or any card game that happened to be dealt. He loved time spent with family and friends above all else.
Terry was preceded in death by his parents and by his beloved sister, Sandra Murray Dildine.
He is survived by his devoted wife of over sixty years, Sandy; his daughters Nicole Murray (Alan Fields) and Michelle Murray (Curtis Powell); his brothers Craig (Debbie) and Kevin (Marge); brother-in-law Dick Dildine: his grandchildren Ryan (Tazara), Becky, Nick and Zoe Fields; his great-grandson Don Powell; and a cherished circle of nieces, nephews, extended family, and lifelong friends who will carry his memory with warmth and gratitude.
Terry Murray was a man of rare range — equally at home behind the controls of a nuclear submarine and across a card table from his cherished friends. He was an engineer who thought in systems, a father who thought in futures, and a husband who never stopped choosing Sandy. He will be deeply missed.

…. and one a little different….
BURT .. .. ..Robert “Bob” Lee Burt, 77, passed away unexpectedly on March 16, 2026. He was so many things to so many people in his life - beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, veteran, friend, and golf buddy – and to say that he gave all that he had into each of these roles would seem to be understating it. Simply put, everyone loved Bob Burt!
He cherished his many friends and family members who love him dearly and his life will undoubtedly be marked by the humor, connection, and experiences that took him far beyond his Texas roots and into many friendships across the world.
Born on August 28, 1948, in San Antonio, Texas, to Juanita and Joe C. Burt, Bob grew up in the town he always called home, Bryan, Texas. A proud graduate of Stephen F. Austin High School, Class of 1966, he entered the United States Air Force shortly after. His service took him from Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, to Turkey, and eventually to Chicksands AFB in England, where he served as a Staff Sergeant (E-5) in logistics and supply until his honorable discharge in the early 1970s. He valued the service to his country, but even more, the travels, stories, and the lifelong friendships that came as a result. It also strengthened his love of country and appreciation for all of those who have and continue to serve our country in uniform.
Bob’s civilian career took him back home and across Texas, including Fort Worth, Waco, and ultimately back to the Bryan area, where he worked at auto dealerships in Bryan and Navasota. No matter the job, Bob brought the same humor, ease, and ability to make friends wherever he went.
One of the most meaningful chapters of his life came in Hawaii, where he found his true calling and served for 23 years as Director of the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park in Pearl Harbor. He loved the work, the history, and true to his nature, the people. He remained so incredibly proud to salute and get to know the stories behind the heroes of that fateful and hallowed place in our nation’s history. Bob was a stranger to no one, and his collection of celebrity encounters became part of his legendary storytelling repertoire, and he proudly kept in touch with more than a few.
His time spent in Hawaii brought him so much joy, most importantly introducing him to Jill, the love of his life, who matched his spirit, love of the outdoors and travel, and curiosity. They got married on May 25, 2005 and together, they built a life filled with golf, travel, laughter, and a partnership defined by respect and genuine companionship. Work ultimately took them to the St. George area, where they continued their amazing life journey.
Bob’s personality filled (and then some) any space he entered. He was always the jokester, the one who could make strangers feel like longtime friends. He thrived on being around people and loved sharing stories about his travels, the trips he had planned, his rounds of golf especially with sons and grandsons, and his cherished holes-in-one. He loved a good audience almost as much as the audience loved him.
Bob had a gift for making people feel valued, and every visit brought something uniquely him, whether through an old photograph he had rediscovered, a treasure he had acquired, or a golf memento he couldn’t wait to show off. He amassed too many friends to mention, but each one knew that he loved them and appreciated their friendships, dearly.

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