Return to Dodge-Thomas Inc Funeral Home
Tribute Wall
Loading...
D
Dave Harrington posted a condolence
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
To Nancy and the entire Stetz family,
Carol and I were deeply saddened to learn of AL's passing. Our sincere condolences to you and your family.
Carol and I were very lucky to get to know AL. His warmth, intelligence, humor and zest for life were always present whenever you were in his company. Al was a true patriot in every sense and meaning of the word. He served his country and put himself in harm's way without fanfare. However, what was always manifest with Al was his love of this country and his family. He was always so appreciative of the freedoms that this marvelous experiment that is America gave to him and his family. And it is the sacrifice and dedication of patriots like AL that should make all of us appreciative, too.
We shall miss Al but we will not forget him. May he enjoy Godspeed as he flies off into the wild blue yonder to a much better place.
With our deepest sympathies,
Respectfully yours,
Dave & Carol Harrington
M
Marion Walsh, Daughter posted a condolence
Monday, July 21, 2014
My father, Cdr. Elias Al Joseph Stetz, USN Retired, of Locust Valley, New York, a naval aviator and war hero, died on July 19, 2014 at the age of 81. The son of a Ukrainian immigrant, our father was raised in poverty during the Great Depression in Hicksville but forged ahead no matter how difficult the circumstances. When he reached Golden, CO to enroll at the Colorado School of Mines in 1953, he arrived with empty pockets and hitchhiked to the school from the train station and worked to cover his expenses. His integrity, passion and commitment, have been an inspiration for his family for the last fifty years as he has served as a role model for his family. Three passions filled my father's life family, flying and golf. In the first area, my father faced the challenges, joys and mysteries of life with my mother Nancy Burke Stetz, for 51 years. He adored my sister Susan and me and our spouses Will and Eric. He was so proud of his six beloved grandchildren who knew him as Big Dad, and include: Dr. Katherine Mullen and her husband Dr. Dave Gorin, Anna Walsh, William Elias Walsh, Marshall Joseph Trout, Richard Walsh and Nancy Trout. Last year, to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, my parents took us on all on a trip in the Caribbean. My father's early interest in flying prompted him to enlist for the Navy during the Korean War, in 1953, while still a college student. As a naval aviator for 26 years, he flew reconnaissance missions out of Turkey, from the same airbase as Gary Powers and spent one tour in Vietnam in 1965-1966 flying at least 27 combat missions along the Cambodian-Vietnam border. He trained at Patuxent River, and taught aerial reconnaissance at the Air Force Academy for a year. He also flew scientific missions in Antarctica from 1960-61. In 1961, he survived a plane crash of a Neptune P2V on November 9, 1961, at Wilkes Station in East Antarctica, which was caused by a fuel leak which sparked a massive fire. My father piloted the plane and landed it, saving four of the nine men on board. From 1971-1975, our family lived in Virginia Beach and he was assigned to the Fleet Combat Direction System Support Activity in Dam Neck Virginia as Project Officer for the P-3C operational and systems test programs. From 1975 -1979, we moved to Hawaii and he served as Commander-- Third Fleet Staff, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as the Command Control Systems Officer responsible for installation, operation, and maintenance of the ASW Centers Command and Control Systems for the Easter Pacific area of operations. My father's military service earned multiple awards, including the Joint Service Commendation Medal, 1965-1966; the Navy Commendation Medal, 1980; the Navy Unit Commendation (VXE-6); the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Lebanon); Republic of Vietnam Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Actions Medal First Class Color with Palm); Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. In 1978, he received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal in 1978, the fourth highest award for life-saving-- awarded only to those who risked their lives to save a struggling comrade, after rescuing a drowning man in Pearl Harbor. No matter what the obstacles, Dad continued on in his education and persevered, while engaged in his service to his country. His strong belief in the importance of education, which he reinforced to my sister and me and his grandchildren, led him to return to school to complete his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Denver in 1965 and his Master of Science Degree at George Washington University in 1971. He pursued his doctorate at the College of William and Mary. After retiring from the Navy in 1979, our family moved back to Locust Valley and he pursued a second career at National Westminster Bank, becoming Vice President for international and domestic banking operations. Upon moving to Long Island, he was also able to indulge his passion for golf, and was an active member of the Creek Club in Locust Valley for 33 years. His rare combination of ability, fair play and good humor made him a welcome addition to any group. He established and conducted at the Creek for many years the Millennium Golf Outing and Dinner with the dinner noted for its toasts, gag gifts and good-natured ribbing. Club legend is founded in fact as, about a decade ago, my father did continue playing through a heart attack and completed the round before driving himself to the hospital. After retiring from an eleven-year career at NatWest, Dad opened his own golf shop and wrote a book, In Search of Eagles, evaluating military golf courses around the country. He subsequently testified before Congress about these courses and the merits in maintaining the Presido course. He wrote recently, The golf course is my ethereal world, and, when not with his family, it is the location he most enjoyed. A man of great spirit and good will, my father was generous with his time and talents. He volunteered at that Boys and Girls Club in Locust Valley to work on flight simulations with children and worked at Kellenberg Memorial High School to teach students computer work. He was always exceedingly big-hearted with his family and proclaimed the motto for his family as faith, courage and unity. We love you Dad and will miss you.