Thank you, one and all, for your condolences and wonderful memories of my Jack. His last year, and especially his last three months, were very difficult as he descended ever more deeply into dementia. I managed to keep him at home with no interlopers until his last week on Earth. He went from ER to hospital to a hospice house all in that week. You will enjoy this: After 2.5 days of neither opening his eyes nor responding to anyone, the girls at the hospice house bathed him upon his arrival. Jack opened his eyes and smiled at them. The staff and I got a big laugh. How Jack! I gave him a beautiful military funeral. The officiant was our close neighbor who knew Jack well and loved him. She is a retired Episcopal priest. Her homily was intensely personal to him. A BM1 came down from NOSC Quincy, just outside of Boston, and, after the congregation sang the Navy Hymn, he piped Jack's ashes ashore when the priest carried them out of the church. An Honor Guard came over from Newport. I had held it together until the bugler blew the first bar of Taps out on the front lawn of the church. Traffic stopped along the busy Rte 6A when drivers saw the sailors folding the flag and presenting it to me. What respect! I am heartbroken and feel Jack's loss as an intensely physical rending. Enough of that. John Ellis, Randy Scott, and Al Brandt especially -- you will never know how your notes have been helping me through. Randy, your note at the obituary website had a deep impact on Jack's kids, who hadn't realized his contributions to national security. Oh, and Jack did the chicken bones one other time (at least) on the plot in front of the FTA for Mike Burnett, his nemesis from FOSIC. Burnett turned so purple I thought he would have a coronary! Jack, Ernie and Phil are all laughing at this memory from the other side. Grateful to all. I miss you all. Mary Ann King
I can't believe I failed to say that Jack Holdzkom provided a LOT of administrative support after my Jack passed -- hours of help drafting the obituary and then advice on the military details of the funeral. Thanks Jack!
