Dino Oliva
1933 ~ 2023 
Captain Dino Oliva, age 90, passed away October 31, 2023. Dino died peacefully in his sleep, at home, after 5 years with Alzheimer’s disease.
Dino was born in Lockport, New York on March 10, 1933, to parents Agostino and Elvira Oliva. His parents emigrated from Fano, Italy in the 1920's. The youngest of 3 boys, he was the first generation to speak English and head off to school in the states. After graduating from Lockport High School in 1950, he set off to college at Clarkson College of Technology, in Potsdam, New York. He took engineering courses and was active in his fraternity, Kappa Kappa Tau. In 1954 he earned a bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering.
After college, Dino signed up with the Marine Corps and enrolled in officers candidate school in Quantico, VA. Dino was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in February, 1955 and was sent to officers training for 8 months. 
Dino trained in Pensacola in 1957, and then set off for Corpus Christi, Texas. With attack bomber training, he earned his wings as a naval aviator; at the time completing six landings on an aircraft carrier. Dino had been trained in an SNJ, T28, and an AD-4. Next he was off to Miami where he trained in a two engine SNB and a R4Q. Off to Cherry point NC next, he checked out as Captain on the R4Q.
While in the Marines, Dino flew troops and cargo during the Lebanon crisis. Completing his missions, he was released from active duty in February of 1958. Dino was recognized as serving over 2000 multi-engine hours, in March of 1959. For the love of flight, Dino continued flying out of Minneapolis with the Marine Reserves squadron for 22 years, until 1970. He retired as a U.S. Marine Corp Lieutenant Colonel in 1977.
Robert ‘Doug’ Wood
1938 ~ 2023 
Robert “Doug” Wood, age 85, was born June 20, 1938, in Butte, Montana, the first of five brothers, to Mary and Bob Wood. Bob, a copper miner, determined to keep his boys out of the mines, moved the family to Post Falls, Idaho, in 1950 where Doug grew up. At Post Falls High School, he demonstrated his natural leadership skill as president of his senior class, student council president, and co-captain of the championship football team that captured the first Panhandle B Conference title for the Trojans in the school’s history.
Though awarded two football scholarships and playing for a short time at EWC, Doug returned to Post Falls and graduated from North Idaho Junior College in 1962. He secured his commission as 2nd lieutenant and entered Air Force flight training, achieving recognition for Highest Mid-Phase Flight Formation Instrument Flying. In 1963 he pinned on his wings and reported to Perrin AFB where he completed advanced intercept training and flew with the 116th Fighter Intercept Squadron for the Washington Air National Guard. Doug accepted an offer to fly commercially for NW Airlines in 1965.
Merle Eglet
1935 ~ 2023
Captain Merle Eglet, age 88, ended his sojourn on earth from the terminal disease of living, with no regrets and owing no one. His life started in McLean County North Dakota June 7, 1935, with parents Charles and Nette Eglet. Skip, as he was nicked named early by his maternal grandfather is survived by his wife, Kathleen of Kirkland, WA, three younger brothers, Tony and Dick of Zillah, WA, Steve of Spokane and older sister Paula Thomas of Naches, WA, his son Robert and wife Tracy of Las Vegas, Nevada, his daughter Brooke and husband Gregg in Nashville, TN. Grandchildren Keegan Eglet, Blake Eglet, and Jordan Eglet in Las Vegas, NV, granddaughter Parker and grandson Thatcher Boling in Nashville, TN, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, mostly residents of eastern Washington.
Skip moved to Zillah, WA with family to escape the ravages of the great depression. He attended school in Zillah, attaining a modicum of success academically, being named valedictorian at all levels. After a rather mediocre struggle with academia, he joined the Naval Aviation Cadet program. This led to a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and a designation as a Naval aviator. His tour of active duty was at El Toro MCAS, CA, with deployments to Yuma, AZ, Fallon, NV and CVA-34 Oriskany. While on active-duty Skip flew the F8U, F9F, T1A, and DC-3. Upon separating from active duty, he joined the Fleet Marine Forces Reserve and continued for 13 years, flying the F9F-6 and 8, the A4D-1 and 2, T-33, T1A, SNB, AD5 and R4Q (C-119) and F6A (F4D-1).
Larry W. Hacker
1940 ~ 2023
Captain Larry Hacker, age 82, flew west on 15 September 2023. Larry was born in Sioux City, Iowa on October 20, 1940, to Edgar W. Schietzelt and Mary Frances Underschied. At the time of his birth, Larry was named Lawrence Wilhelm Schietzelt. Larry’s father, Edgar, was killed in action March 28, 1945, in Germany. Mary Frances later married Charles W. Hacker and Lawrence Wilhelm Schietzelt became Larry William Hacker.
Larry had five siblings: Gary, Maurine, Mary Dee, Margie and Charles. His adoptive father was a railroad employee and at one time Larry thought he might follow this career path.
Larry had a solid Catholic education; St Joseph Grade School, Bishop Heelan Catholic High School and Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. During high school Larry’s athletic endeavors included track and basketball. You could also find him on stage preforming with the rest of the Theater Group. His favorite role, Lt. Joseph Cable USMC, in the musical South Pacific.
School and learning were easy for Larry. He could hear or read something and retain the information. He never had to study for a test in school.
He worked as a hospital orderly during high school and for a collection agency, repossessing cars, during college.
Richard 'Dick' Haglund
1933 ~ 2023
Captain Richard Haglund, age 90, passed away peacefully on May 7, 2023. The last six months of his life ‘Dick’ suffered from a backbone failure.
Dick was born on February 21, 1933, in Opstead, Minnesota to parents Oscar and Annie Haglund. He was number three of four boys in birth order. During his childhood, the Haglund family lived on a dairy farm in Mille Lacs County and as a youngster Dick carried out farm chores. He attended Isle High School located adjacent to the southeast corner of Mille Lacs Lake. Dick was a good student and a good athlete, playing football and basketball in high school. He was endowed with a good singing voice which enhanced his ability to yodel. Dick enjoyed running as fast as possible and told his friends that some day he would fly.
After high school Dick enlisted in the Air Force but was medically discharged for a skin disorder on his feet. Thereafter he studied for two years at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. Concurrently with his enrollment at Macalester, Dick took flying lessons at Flying Cloud Airport. To finance the flying lessons, he worked as a night watchman. Dick persisted with this rigorous lifestyle and in good time acquired his FAA Commercial/Instrument Pilot ratings as well as a CFI Instructor rating. The CFI enabled him to earn income as an instructor while building his flight time. Dick persisted in contacting the employment office at Northwest Airlines regarding pilot hiring. This persistence paid off and Dick was hired by Northwest Airlines on April 04, 1959.
John M Campbell
1941 ~ 2023
Captain John M Campbell, just shy of 82, died Wednesday August 2, 2023, at his home in Mendota Heights surrounded by his wife and family. John was born on September 28, 1941, in Atlanta, Georgia as the only child to Lilian Wyche and John Patrick Campbell.
John graduated from John McDonough High School in New Orleans in 1960. During his high school years John was a member of the Civil Air Patrol where he met lifelong friends. The CAP influenced and inspired John’s life-long love of flying. After high school he enrolled at Loyal University in New Orleans to major in physics.
In 1963 John enlisted in the U.S. Navy to enter the Naval Aviation Cadet (NAVCAD) program. Toward the end of his flight training John opted for advanced rotor wing (helicopter) training. After earning his Wings of Gold, he was stationed at NAS Quonset Point in Rhode Island. There he flew SH-3A helicopters, often patrolling for Russian submarines off the East Coast of the United States during the Vietnam War. John opted to leave the active Navy in the spring of 1968 and was hired by Northwest Airlines on May 06, 1968.
Gregory J. Berry
1952 ~ 2023
Captain Gregory James Berry, passed away on August 19, 2023, at his home with his wife Nina and daughters Angela and Natalie by his side after a hard-fought 5-month battle with glioblastoma. He was 70 years old.
Born August 26, 1952, at the Winslow Clinic on Bainbridge Island to John and Carmen Berry, Greg grew up in Eagle Harbor with his two brothers and other long-time island family friends. He graduated from Bainbridge High School in 1970 as class salutatorian and earned varsity letters in football and basketball.
Greg earned a degree from Seattle University in Business Administration with a minor in Economics. He spent summers fishing in Alaska to help finance college and flying lessons at Boeing Field. He obtained a Private Pilot’s License at age 19. After graduation from college, he pursued his passion for aviation with the U.S. Navy.
David Lundin
1931 ~ 2023
Captain C. David Lundin, age 91, of Dresser, WI, passed away Thursday, July 20, 2023, surrounded by family at the Christian Community Homes in Osceola, WI.
Dave was born December 24, 1931, to parents, Carl and Inet Lundin, in Minneapolis, MN. He attended Roosevelt High School, graduating in 1949. He Entered Gustavus Adolphus College to pursue a Pre Law course of studies for 2 Years. He transferred to the University of Minnesota and entered the Law School “2-4” program and accepted an NROTC Scholarship. He graduated June 11, 1955, and was commissioned (Ensign USN, 15 June 1955). He earned his wings in Pensacola, FL, transferring to Corpus Christi, TX and then to Bermuda. In 1959, he left active duty and joined the Ready Reserves, moving back to Minnesota, where he would serve 20+ years as a pilot, and earn top ranking as Captain, USNR. In the reserves, Dave, serving as Squadron CO, and his crew, received the Noel Davis Trophy in 1974 for being the most efficient aviation division of the USNR.
On November 21, 1966, Dave began his commercial pilot career with Northwest Airlines. His initial crew assignment was as a Second Officer on the Boeing 727. {Dave flew the standard NWA MSP base succession of aircraft, retiring on Dec. 12, 1991 as a Classic 747 captain.}
Raymond J. Cornforth
1925 ~ 2023
Captain Raymond ‘Jack’ Cornforth, age 98, took his last flight and left our world very peacefully on Sunday June 25th, surrounded with loving family and friends. Jack came from a very small town in Oklahoma and his love of flying was initially sparked by a couple of $1 airplane rides at the local fair with a kind man and his crop duster airplane. In the Spring of 1943, at the ripe old age 17, he entered basic training with the Army Air Corps. Jack was initially trained as an aircraft mechanic, but later completed pilot training as an Aviation Cadet. In April of 1945, Jack was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and awarded Air Corp Pilot’s wings. He served the rest of the war as a P-40 Warhawk Fighter Pilot
After WWII, and release from Army duty, Jack found employment packing parachutes and working as an aircraft mechanic. He and a coworker heard there were aircraft mechanics jobs in St Paul, Minnesota so off they went. Jack was hired by Northwest Orient Airlines on February 9, 1948. He worked for Northwest Airlines for 44 years serving as a Mechanic, Crew Chief, Flight Engineer, Copilot and Captain. At age 60 Jack confronted FAA mandatory retirement. However, he was eligible to continue working an additional seven years as a flight engineer (2nd officer) on the classic Boeing 747. During those seven years Jack also served Northwest Airlines and the Department of Defense through NWA’s commitment to the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) by providing contract transportation for military troops and supplies from the United States to bases in Germany, Kuwait and Iraq during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Melden B. Suggett, Jr.
1933 ~ 2023
Captain Melden ‘Mel’ Suggett, Jr., age 89, died February 12, 2023, after a long struggle with dementia. ‘Mel’ was born and raised in a rural setting near Woodland, California. His father, Mel Sr., was a rice grower working fields that would today be visible from the airport traffic area at Sacramento Airport.
Mel was a good student and an excellent athlete. His athletic skills at Woodland High School won Mel accolades at All State high school competitions and a scholarship to Olympic College in Bremerton, WA where he studied Forestry. Like many other future aviators, upon acquiring two years of college credits Mel applied for USAF Aviation Cadet pilot training. After preflight at Lackland AFB, TX Mel did well in Primary and Basic Flight Training. Completing the Aviation Cadet flight training, Mel was commissioned and rated as a USAF pilot. From Texas he traveled north to Tinker AFB, OK for C-124 Globemaster transition training. With transition behind him, Mel reported for operational assignment to the 62nd Troop Carrier Wing at McChord AFB. This began a long-time association with aviation centered in the Seattle/Tacoma area.
James Edward Swanson
1940 ~ 2022
Captain James Edward Swanson, age 81 of Eagan and Edina, MN, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2022, after a valiant battle with acute pulmonary problems...
Jim was born in Iron Mountain, Michigan on March 19 1940, to the late Edward and Vera (Fearing) Swanson. The oldest of five children, Jim grew up in nearby Florence and Wabeno, Wisconsin where his father worked as a baker. As a young lad Jim worked alongside his father in the bakery. He attended Wabeno High School where he was known as a well-rounded student having participated in almost every sport and school activity including basketball, football, band, choir, glee club, and student council.
It was natural for Jim to go on to attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison. As these were the years of mandatory ROTC, he opted for Air Force ROTC. During his senior year Jim received FAA approved training in light aircraft as a prescreening for USAF Pilot Training. The same week he received his BA degree in political science, he was also commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force Reserve.