Some of us learned of Classmate Mick Rosenblatt's passing when we received an email last May from Dave Sterling notifying us that Mick would be among those honored at the annual USAFA Memorial Service at the Air Force Monument adjacent to the Pentagon. Later in June, Mick's wife Donna held a memorial reception for Mick at Dave's home in Northern Virginia. It's very sad to learn of a Classmate's passing, and those of us who knew Mick know he was (and remains) one of the good guys! As with many of our Classmates, most of us saw him the last time at our 45th Reunion proudly with Donna catching up from his days as Squadron Commander for the CS-19 "Playboys!" Politically correct? Shmickly Verclept'! (You have to get a very rare, mythical Yiddish dictionary to figure that one out.) Anyway, once a Playboy, always a Playboy. A nice one like Mick ... although some still wonder what those guys were doing down there!
It was training for that ride when Mick "slipped the surly bonds of earth. And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings ... ." He went with his boots — that is, his bicycle toe clips — on. Mick joins the ranks of departed Classmates, including names at the Southeast Asia Memorial Pavilion. It's not like Mick to slouch away, however, and we remember not only the smiles seen above as Mick and Donna primed to beat Army all by themselves. But also to finish what Mick started, Donna recently got in touch to invite Classmates to help go the distance, on bicycle or foot, to remember Mick and his nefarious plan to remind "some of us" to improve our diet and exercise! In Donna's words transmitting the photo below:
But that's not all ... Donna, having never done anything like this before, committed to train from a standing start to complete the ride herself. On March 2, 2019, she and two friends did just that. Once again the wives prove that they are the brawn as well as the brains. But what's the party without pals. Dick Rauschkolb, Russ McKnight, John Stringfellow, Angus McDonald, "Mulf" Mulford and others reached out to Classmates — us manly men who match our mountains! etc. — to put in some miles remembering Mick, honoring '70 and the guys we've lost. Then after the ride, Tom O’Meara. Kahuna and Glennie Burgess, and Mike Lambert with wife Jenny headed to Waco to have dinner with Donna and crew. So many people wanted to join Mick's memorial dinner that it took two seatings. Airline friends, church friends, '70 friends, community friends and more. You can see Mike Lambert's report under his photo further below. But what's the party without pals. Dick Rauschkolb, Russ McKnight, John Stringfellow, Angus McDonald, "Mulf" Mulford and others reached out to Classmates — all us manly men who match our mountains! — to put in some miles remembering Mick, honoring '70 and the guys we've lost. Then after the ride, Tom O’Meara. Kahuna and Glennie Burgess, and Mike Lambert with wife Jenny headed to Waco to have dinner with Donna and crew. So many people wanted to join Mick's memorial dinner that it took two seatings. Airline friends, church friends, '70 friends, community friends and more. You can see Mike Lambert's report under his photo further below. Now for the "troops in the field." Banded together in a short time the nucleus were our group of crazies who took on the Hood to Coast Relay. The monster of all relays, largest in the galaxy, oldest team ever to run, kicked butt, set a race fundraising record, but I digress. We know that this was just a small slice of our USAFA70 Winded Warriors whose derring-do as well as quiet service to our Nation, families, friends and communities all deserve credit. Recall that the Winded Warriors Team specifically includes the Class of '70 en masse. Check the original Team list to prove it. Look for somebody named Baldacci. In short order, following are the alpha-roster of cult members who reported in: STAY TUNED - MORE TO COME Comments are closed.
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Winded WarriorsThe "Winded Warriors" Team Follow Winded Warriors all the way to the finish line! |