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At random: "Diving Officer, I believe we are airborne" OOD, looking out the periscope after a broach.

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Coyote

Posted 2026-09-27 5:28 PM (#106277)

Master and Commander

Posts: 1547

Location: NE Florida

Subject: Sunday Obits

https://www.facebook.com/ussvi.eternalpatrol/
https://ussvi.org/membership/eternal-patrol (USSVI members only)

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.

[Coyote is traveling, updates might be irregular]

CRAMER .. .. .. Colchester - Forrest E. Cramer, 84, of Colchester, passed away peacefully Sept. 20, 2026. following a brief illness. Born in Middletown, Ohio, May 5, 1942, to the late Forrest E. Cramer Sr. and Lois Jean (Banta) Cramer, he was nicknamed "Skeeter" at birth - a name that stayed with him throughout his life among family and friends,
A U.S. Navy submarine veteran, Forrest was a longtime member of the U.S. Submarine Veterans Association, Groton Base, where he served in the Honor Guard and was a member of the Holland Club, honoring submariners who have qualified in submarines and earned their "Dolphins" for 50 years or more. He proudly served aboard the USS Albacore, AGSS-569, and SSBN-640 Benjamin Franklin.
Forrest's civilian career in the travel industry took him from Kenya to Shanghai, Europe to the Caribbean, and many places in between. He loved high school reunions, creating elaborate R2D2 Halloween costumes for his daughter, Santa-Clausing a Christmas drum set, sailing with his kids and dog, and arts and crafts projects for his home and church. Above all, he loved sailing from Noank at the helm of Suzy Sea, where he enjoyed the open water and endless horizons.
Forrest is survived by his wife, Suzanne; children: Kristen Cramer and her wife, Nancy Swanson; Scott Cramer and his wife, Denise Cramer; Michael Gomez; and Emily Murphy. He took special joy in his grandchildren, Colson Gomez, and Charlotte and Isabel Murphy.
One of eight children, Forrest also leaves behind beloved brothers and sisters, many nieces and nephews, many of whom still call him "Skeeter," and extended Carrier, Cramer and Thomas families, who cherished his spirit, and stories of travel and seafaring adventures.

KERSTIENS .. .. .. Francis Lyle Kerstiens
If you are reading this, then you know that the soul of Lyle has departed this world for the next. Lyle was born December 7, 1950, in Colorado Springs and grew up in Simla, Colorado. His soul departed on August 28, 2026, at the age of 75.
He was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Marjorie Kerstiens; daughter Erica Kerstiens; and stepson Jonathan Garcia. He is survived by his beloved wife, Teresa; his son, Eron Kerstiens (Teri) of Los Alamos, NM; his stepdaughter, Jennifer Garcia (Lorenzo) of Rio Rancho, NM; sister Verna Gross (John) of Durango, CO; grandchildren Caleb Kerstiens, Jace Kerstiens, Anna Kerstiens, Kylee Elwell, Gavin Elwell, and Ashlyn Garcia; great-grandson Sebastian Garcia; and his very loyal dog, Ruby.
Lyle joined the Navy in 1971 and served on the USS James Monroe, SSBN 622, as a submarine reactor operator until 1978. He was extremely proud of earning his Dolphins, signifying "Qualified in Submarines" status, and loved telling sea stories. He belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and United States Submarine Veterans. He didn't have a PhD, but he did have a DD-214.
This nuclear background provided the experience to get hired at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, later known as Los Alamos National Laboratory. His LANL background included accelerator operations; quality assurance on plutonium reactor fuel processes, fusion reactor tritium fuel recovery, and high-level nuclear waste storage; I&C engineering on nuclear weapons underground testing; I&C engineering on high-explosive testing; computer and network management; facility software management; and the development and delivery of Conduct of Engineering training.
While working full-time, he managed to finish a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Arts in Organizational Management through the University of Phoenix. He was very proud of working at LANL and retired after 34 years. He continued to provide Conduct of Operations contract work for eight years when Teresa needed him to work with his own kind.
He liked any outdoor activity, including yard work. He took his children camping and backpacking in New Mexico and Colorado, where he and Eron managed to climb 34 of the 53 Colorado 14ers. He loved running mountains and canyons with his dogs, which morphed into marathons and triathlons, as well as skiing and snowshoeing. He designed and made much of his and Teresa's furniture. Later in life, as his body parts wore out, he started playing bad golf.
He loved life and will be missed by all who crossed paths with him. He always worked to turn bad decisions into good ones and to repeat good decisions.

HODGE .. .. .. Floyd E. Hodge, Jr., 95, passed away peacefully on November 3, 2025, in Florida. Born in Middletown, Connecticut, he was the son of the late Floyd E. and Josephine Hodge, who had lived in Marlborough, CT. Along with his parents, Floyd was predeceased by his beloved son, David W. Hodge. He is survived by his devoted wife, Gail (Ducey) Hodge; beloved brother Harrison Hodge; loving stepdaughters Lisa Ann Fioravanti (Jeffrey Fioravanti), Laura Lee Vasile, and Lynn Gail Maschi; cherished grandsons Christopher Hodge, Jeffrey, Jr., and Jeremy Fioravanti; and many dear nieces and nephews. Floyd’s lifelong commitment to service began early. In 1945, at the age of 15, he entered the Junior National Guard, beginning a path that would define his life. He was later stationed in ADAK, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, attended Groton Submarine School, and proudly served in the United States Navy’s Silent Service—the elite submarine force. During his distinguished naval career, he served aboard the AV-12 USS Pine Island (CA) and the SSBN-599 USS Patrick Henry based in Holy Loch, Scotland, including during the Cuban and Russian Missile Crises. He went on to serve aboard the SSBN-645 USS James K. Polk, from which he retired in Rota, Spain, as a Chief Petty Officer. Following his naval service, Floyd retired from SNET (AT&T) in 1988. Never one to rest when he could serve, he volunteered for Meals on Wheels for more than ten years in both Connecticut and Florida. A man of deep faith and devotion, Floyd was a proud member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Stuart, Florida, where he found fellowship and spiritual strength. He deeply loved God, his family, and his country, living each day with humility, generosity, and gratitude. Floyd will be remembered as a wonderful man—kind, compassionate, and steadfast—whose quiet strength, humor, and love touched all who knew him. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the hospice caregivers who provided such compassionate care and support during Floyd’s final days.
[Added information from USSVI Groton]
Floyd joined the Navy in 1947. He started his Naval Career on board USS CHARLES R WARE (DD 865). Then he volunteered for Submarine Duty. His first Submarine was USS COD (SS 224) where he completed his Submarine Qualifications in 1952. He also served aboard USS PIPER (SS 409), USS PATRICK HENRY (SSBN 599), and USS JAMES K POLK (SSBN 645). Floyd Hodge retired from the Navy in 1969 as an FTCS(SS) with 22 years’ service.
Floyd joined USSVI Groton Base in 1996 as a Life Member and was inducted into the prestigious Holland Club in 2002.

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