(G) Biographies

 

Garvin, Kenneth

Gignac, Louis

Glick, Irving H.

Goodfellow, John

Greenbaum, L.J. Jr.

Greenfest, Melvin

Gross, Gary


 John Goodfellow,
VP-21 1967 - 1969

05/02/2005
 PINEHURST, N.C. — John Goodfellow, Cmdr. U.S. Navy, retired, 76, of
Pinehurst, N.C., died Wednesday, April 27, 2005, at First Health Moore
 Regional Hospital.

 He was born in Wenatchee, Wash., Jan. 3, 1929, a son of John and Ellen
 Goodfellow. He attended the University of New Mexico and was a member of the
 Epsilon Fraternity. He later graduated from the University of New
 Hampshire with a master's degree in business.

 He worked for his father at the Goodfellow Construction Co. They poured
 the first cement for the Grand Coulee Dam inWashington.

 He enlisted in the Navy in 1950, attended flight school in Pensacola,
 Fl., and received his wings in Corpus Christie, Texas. He was stationed in
 Washington, Florida, California and Maine. He served in the Korean
 Conflict, followed by deployments to Japan, Midway, Okinawa, Alaska, Italy, Greece,
 Turkey, Spain, Ireland, Iceland and Puerto Rico. He was assigned to
 VAHM-10, VP-17, VP-30, VP-21 and Fleet Air Wing 3 and Fleet Air Wing 5. He was an
 executive officer and the commanding officer of Patrol Squadron 21 at NAS
 Brunswick, Maine. The squadron flew the Lockheed P2V-7 SP2H Neptune.
 He retired in 1971 after 21 years of service.

 He married Margarett Ann Hurt of Renton, Wash., May 14, 1954. They built
 their home in Pinehurst in 1987 and moved to the area full-time in 1994.

 Survivors include his wife; five sons, Scott and his wife, Kathy, of
 Southern Pines, Hugh of Bath, Maine, Craig and his wife, Kelly, of Lake
 City, Fla., Brett and his wife, Susan, of Bath, Maine, and Stuart of
 Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and nine grandchildren who reside in Colorado, Maine, Florida
 and Georgia.

 A memorial service was held at the Village Chapel in Pinehurst, N.C.
 Sunday, with Dr. Larry Ellis officiating.

 Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Research
 Department, Southeast Division, Inc., 2200 Lake Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30319;
 or to the Carolina Medical Center, Carolina Neuromuscular ALS Center, PO Box
 32681, Charlotte, NC 28323-2861

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 Louis Gignac

NIAGARA, Wis. — Louis Harland Gignac, 78, died Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2006, at the VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, after a long illness.

He was born on July 28, 1928, in Portland, Maine.

Louis served in the U.S. Navy with honor for 29 years. He was a member of Naval Patrol Squadron Twenty One (VP-21) from 1953 to 1955. After his retirement, he enjoyed being an active member and officer of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the 40 et 8. He volunteered wherever he was needed.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Gignac, two daughters, Diane (Michael) Tanerillo of Windham, Maine, and Mary Louise Waterhouse of Portland; three sons, Philip (Janet) Gignac of Portland, Anthony Gignac of Saco, Maine, and Edward Gignac of Veazie, Maine; a stepson, Arthur Lehmann of Niagara; a stepdaughter, Christa H. Samartino of Crowley, La.; three brothers, Raymond Gignac of Prince Frederick, Md., Edward Joseph (Irene) Gignac of Owings, Md., and Perley (Frances) Hood of Merriman; three sisters, Paula (Craig) Dufresne of Felch, Linda (Warren) Anderson of Felch, and Deborah (Lloyd) Hilsabeck of Niagara; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and a special dog, Scooby Doo.

Louis was preceded in death by his son, Louis Gignac Jr.; his father, Louis Gignac; his mother, Almeda Eckerberg; and three sisters, Sonja Anderson, Joan Soule, and Marie “Mary” Murphy.

Visitation will be Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m. at Tondin-Ross & Freeman Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Msgr. James Kaczmarek to officiate. Military rites will follow the service, and they will be accorded by the Uren-Cooper-Johnson American Legion Post 50.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of Louis Harland Gignac online at www.tondinfuneralhome.com.

 

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 Leon J. Greenbaum, Jr.
Leon 'Lee' Greenbaum, 1985
LTJG. Greenbaum, VPB-111,  was born 24 September 1923.

                  Leon (Lee) entered the Navy in December 1942 and began his flight training at Roanoke College, Roanoke, Virginia. Since official Naval uniforms were not available, they were given the green CCC uniforms (Civilian Conservation Corps). Intermediate training was at the Memphis Naval Air Station with final training and commissioning at Pensacola.

    Following commissioning,he went to the Naval Air Station in Hutchinson, Kansas for B24 training and following that, additional training at the Jacksonville Naval Auxillary Air Station. From there it was crew assignment in San Diego and then a transPacific to Kaneohi Naval Air Station on Oahoo. From there he was assigned duty with VPB 111.

    After the cessation of hostilities and return to the States, Leon had duty at Anacostia Naval Air Station, Naval Air Station, Chincoteague and then assignment to VP-62. His next duty was at the Office of Naval Research in  Washington, DC with additional duty at the Naval Submarine Base, Groton and the Naval Experimental Diving Unit, Naval Station, Washington, DC.

   Leon received training as a mixed gas deep sea diver and qualified in 1963. The next step in his Naval carrier was to expand his education at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Following the receipt of his Doctorate he was assigned duty at the Naval Medical Research Institute, Bethesda, Maryland to do research in submarine and diving medicine. Leon coauthored two texts on compressed air, diving and submarine medicine; they were published by the Navy. He also helped to train some of the country's first astronauts in scuba diving at the UDT Base, Little Creek, Virginia before their first space adventures.

    Since much of his Navy research dealt with submarine escape, diver decompression using animal models; these models could be equally applied to stroke in man. As a result he received additional duty at the National Institutes of Health to administer the stroke program and other illnesses of the nervous system, viz head and spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, etc.

Leon retired with the rank of Captain in 1985 and took a position as the Executive Director of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, an international scientific and medical society dealing with commercial and recreational diving and the use of hyperbaric oxygen to treat thirteen medical illnesses. His retirement from the Society was in 2001.

Scientific Contributions: 32 Scientific papers; two published texts: Compressed Air, Diving, and Submarine Medicine. Leon is a board member in the Diver Alert Network, Chesapeake Enviromental Association, YMCA Camp Letts, and All Hallows Vestry.

My wife and I live on the water in Maryland near Annapolis. We are cruising and racing sailors. I play the cello in a local orchestra, sing in our church choir along with my wife, Betty. She plays the piano and we play duets, an enjoyable and relaxing pastime. I'm a member of the Naval Academy Sailing Squadron and in the past have served as Safety Officer on their boats, plus doing some teaching. I have also given special lectures to the Trident scholars at the Naval Academy in diving physiology.
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 Gross, Gary
1965
1967,Rota - CDR I.J. Johnson bestowing Gary's 3rd.Class Crow
2001, Miriam&Gary, VA Beach Reunion

I joined the Navy At 18 (Sept 4, 1964), after high school. Boot camp at Great Lakes, then to AC A school NAS Glenco in Brunswick Ga. That was not my forte, washed out, 15th week. Orders to NAS Brunswick Me, changed to NAS Guantanamo. 1 year there working on Crane Hill radar installation. Left there on orders to VP-21 as AZAN. worked in maintenance office for, Chiefs Blair, Harvey, Gallagher and Acker. Also, 2 great guys Lt Szczepanski & Lt Woychowski. Deployed to Rota and Sigonella (twice). Went with 3-Plane detachment to Souda Bay twice.

My last year I worked with my good friend Tom Watt. I Think that Man was born to be a leading chief.
Extended my enlistment for 8 months and was discharged as AZ2 May 2, 1969.
After the Navy I went of Mortuary School in Boston and returned to my family business in Saco, Me. Purchased the Funeral Home from my dad in 1979, merged with another funeral home in 1983. Sold out and moved to Florida in 1987. Am presently a licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer in Maine and Florida. I have been with a family owned funeral home here in west central FL, as manager/VP for the Past 15 years.
Have been storekeeper/Director for the last 2-3 years and have enjoyed renewing old friendships.

Gary Gross

Gary passed away July 14, 2009

 

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 Irving H. Glick

Many members of VP-21 will remember me for my exploits in that squadron.  Some of these are of a nature that I would not like to disclose, so I will limit my comments to some extent.

Before continuing, however, I would like to remind one and all that my middle initial stands for Hallmark.  (“Hallmark, when you care enough to send the very best.”)

It is possible that certain details of my time in the squadron may have faded from my memory, undoubtedly due to my advanced age, but I do have several fond recollections.  I would certainly invite any of my shipmates to add to my remembrances as deemed appropriate and generally within the bounds of decency.

It was a great day for me when the Commanding Officer gave me a check ride for Patrol Plane Commander (PPC) designation.  For some reason, he marked all the evaluation items on the check sheet as “Below Average” - except for the item evaluating my performance in starting the jets.  For that item he marked me “Outstanding”.  (I was pleased, as I am certain you all remember how extremely difficult it was to start the jets.)

Anyhow, the recommendation for PPC was sent to the Commander, Fleet Air Wing THREE.  Not only did the Commodore approve, he even marked the PPC designation, “With kindest personal regards” above his signature.  I believe this was the only time the Commodore ever put such a personal note on a PPC document.  (Some say that he did that because it had been rumored that I did not even exist and he wanted all to know that he was well aware of what was going on.  Can you imagine?)

I was particularly proud of my fellow crewmembers in CAC13.  The names I recall:

     Angelo Sangiavani
     Wyandotte Plunker
     Leopold Hershfield  (His initials were on the tail of all VP-21 aircraft.)

Several years after I had left the squadron, I had the pleasure of revisiting NAS Brunswick.  The Neptune had long been out of active squadron service, but some kind souls had arranged to have an old P2V mounted for display just inside the main gate.  See photo below.


It was an incredibly proud moment for me.


(I am particularly pleased with the high quality of my picture, as attached hereto.  Some

have commented that they note that various parts of my handsome visage would seem to resemble parts of the faces of several other members of the squadron in the 1964-66 time frame.  Remarkable!). Also see what my friends and shipmates have had to say about my career and history. Go to my official 'living biography' website at http://www.vp-21.org/GLICK

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Kenneth Garvin

I joined the Navy Reserves fresh out of High School in Garland, TX in Aug. 1955 and went to Boot Camp in Great Lakes in Jan. 1956. Following Airman Prep in Norman, OK I made a feeble attempt at AT-A school in Memphis and as they say "the rest is history"

I soon found myself "Haze Gray and Underway" involved in the Navy's foray into the concept of Jet Seaplanes with the P6-M marrried to the idea of using a converted LSD, the USS Ashland LSD-1. After the concept failed I found myself aboard an AVP, USS Valcour with nary a seaplane in sight on the way to the Persian Gulf. Rudely ensconced in the world of chip and paint and then do it again!

Returning to Conus I was rewarded with Shore Duty orders to FASRON-108, Brunswick,ME. So much for Global Warming. I worked the system for an assignment to the AO shop because they were just about the only division that did not stand ramp security watches in undress blues, low cuts and white hats. Finally got smart enough to take the AO3 exam in Aug of 1959.

The following year I crossed the ramp to the P2V world with VP-21 where I spent the following 6+years acquiring two more stripes and logging about 3200 hours in various seats, flight engineer, radio, MAD, ECM and In-flight chef. After a brief tour ashore at Quonset Point, I thought for sure the Navy needed me back in Maine in the P3 world. But Alas, some one invented the A7-A and the Viet Nam War and if your credentials included the title AO-1, guess what? I joined the squadron in training at VA-174 as a Plank Owner in 1967.

One week to the day before we departed for Westpac, Master Chief Sredonja called me at home and let me know I had been selected for AOC first increment (7 days away). His parting words were "You better be ready" Instead of a leisurely last day home with the bride, I spent my time between uniform shops, thrift stores and the "lucky bag"; I managed to put together the new wardrobe befitting the title, AOC(AC) Garvin.

The night before my initiation, enroute to Rio De Janeiro, the rest of the squadron's E-6's evicted me from my berthing space at midnight!

Following the cruise,  I moved across town to the banks of the St. Johns to AO (B) school.

During my next shore duty at Weapons Dept. Cecil Field I held the post of Guided Missile Division LCPO and was fortunate enough to be selected for WO-1. My initial tour was to VA-83 where I racked up 3 cruises to the med totalling 22 months in chopped along with the accompanying carquals, mini cruises, etc. Along the way, I picked up my very own Airman's Certificate with ASMEL(Inst) rating.

The heart attack that went along with 3 back to back Med Cruises put an end to my budding flying career. Following forced retirement in Sept 1976, I pursued various and sundry careers including Resales, Mortgage banking, Auto Sales, Bail Bondsman and Bounty Hunter. When my pace-maker came within a nano second or 2 from firing while I wrestled a bond jumper, I decided to hang it up at age 62 and moved to the Mountains of Ashe County NC. About 70 miles from Hickory.

After busting my medical I picked up a couple of new hobbies, sailing and eventually at age 52 sky diving.

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Melvin Greenfest

Melvin was born in Bronx, NY 75 years ago. Formerly of East Brunswick, NJ, he was a resident of Boynton Beach, FL., he passed away in Boynton Beach, on August 20, 2011. Mr. Greenfest served our country in the U.S. Navy. During his working years he was a men's shirt manufacturer.

He was the beloved husband of Elaine Greenfest for 52 years, loving father of Robert (Jaye) Greenfest, Brian (Shelly) Greenfest and Lauren Eidman (Scott Durann). He was a cherished grandfather of Adam, Alex, A.J. & Carly and devoted brother of Cynthia (Morty) Koff. Tribute services to honor his memory are scheduled for Tuesday - August 23, 2011 - 2:00 p.m. at Beth Israel Memorial Park Route 1, Woodbridge, NJ 07095, 732-634-2100.

Contributions in his memory may be made to B'nai Israel Cogregation 6301 Montrose Road-Rockville, MD 20852 or Papanicolau - Ponte Vecchio West Chapter 7805 Caprio Drive - Boynton Beach, FL 33472. Starting on Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. the period of mourning will be observed at the residence of Bob & Jaye Greenfest, 14007 Forest Ridge Drive, North Potomac, MD 20878 for a one day period of mourning.

 

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