A TRAGIC LOSS FOR THE UFP!!!
THE UNITED FEDERATED PLANETS IS AN EXTENDED FAMILY FOR ME AND THE LOSS OF ANY MEMBER TO THE ULTIMATE END OF ALL LIFE IS A PERSONAL LOSS FOR ME. THESE UFP MEMBERS HAVE BEEN A PART OF OUR UFP FAMILY AND THEY WILL REMAIN SO, HONORED HERE FOR AS LONG AS THIS WEB PAGE EXISTS.
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RALPH ANTHONY ZECCA
FEB. 8, 1918 + JULY 18, 2005
Colleagues:
May the whole of EarthForce pause today for at approx.
7:55am EDT on 0507.18 (7/18/05), Colonel Ralph Zecca,
EarthForce Army Commander & Vice President of the
Filismaar Planetary Outpost passed away at the age of
87 (apparently from a stroke). He died at the home of
his daughter Debbie Iketani in Ocala, Florida,
surrounded by his daughters and grandchildren.
Ralph Zecca was originally from Mechanicville, NY, and
previously worked as a semi truck driver & auto
mechanic before he was drafted into the US Army in
March 1943. He was in the European theater of
operations during WWII, attached to the 109th Inf.
Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division (PA National
Guard). Among the battles he participated in were the
D-Day invasion (6th wave) of Normandy on Omaha Beach,
the liberation of Paris, the Ardennes and the Battle
of the Bulge, where he was wounded in the right
shoulder. Ralph Zecca received the following medals:
Purple Heart w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Good Conduct medal
European African Middle Eastern Service medal
American Campaign
World War II Victory medal
He later received a citation from the French
government for participating in the liberation of that
country and a medal from the people of Normandy for
the liberation of that area in 1944.
In his post-military life, Ralph Zecca was a shop
foreman for a Syracuse (NY) Chrysler dealership,
co-owner of a hardware store in Miami (FL) and a high
school auto mechanics teacher in the Dade County (FL)
Public Schools. He also had a stint in the US Air
Force Reserve as a TSgt. at Homestead (FL) AFB.
There is much more that can be told but it will have
to wait for another time.
In addition to UFP, Ralph Zecca was Senior Marine
Officer on the USS Eclipse chapter of Starfleet
Command (Rank: Major), DOIC of the 109th MAG of
Starfleet Marines International (Rank: Colonel), and
honorary member of the Lesser House of Hwaerianh
(affiliated with RSE International). His other
affiliations were with VFW Post 2811, DAV Gator
Chapter 90 (both Gainesville, FL), Military Order of
the Purple Heart (assigned to Chapter 466 Ocala, FL)
and the Knights of Columbus Council 6108 & Assembly
1817 (Gainesville, FL).
As chapter president, I was honored to have Col. Ralph
Zecca as my vice president. I was more honored to
have him as my father, friend and inspiration.
As Anla'shok Na of the Rangers, I know the Minbari
speak of the departed as having gone to the sea and
arriving in the "place where no shadows fall." Ralph
enjoyed seeing me wear the traditional Anla'shok Na
uniform I made on those occasions when I had to wear
it. He also embodied the qualities of delight,
respect & compassion stressed by Valen as central to
his Rangers. Now, as a successor to the office once
held by Valen, Lenonn, Turval, Jeffrey Sinclair &
Delenn (our Entil'Zha), I ask that Col. Ralph Zecca be
posthumously honored as a Ranger and (role-play) a
part of him be interred at the Ranger compound in
Tuzanor.
Goodnight, Anla'shok Ralph Zecca, my father. In
Valen's name, find rest in the place where no shadows
fall.
Gen. Anne Zecca
Vice C-in-C of EarthDome
Anla'shok Na of the Rangers
Satai of the Grey Council
Editor, "Voice of the Alliance"
Chapter President, Filismaar Planetary Outpost
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JANE KIENZLE
SEPT. 9, 1957 + OCT. 17, 1997
Subject: CO of USS Maverick passed away
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 1997 23:39:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: KienzleJ@aol.com
To: mikeferg@swbell.net
Be informed that Jane Kienzle, CO of USS Maverick died on Friday, October 17, due to complications from a double heart bypass surgery.
XO, Chuck Kienzle, will assume command of the chapter for the time being.
Chuck Kienzle
IN MEMORIAM:
Name: Jane Kienzle
Born: September 9, 1957
Passed Away: October 17, 1997
Survived by:
Chuck Kienzle: Husband
Ashley Kienzle: Daughter (12 years old)
Joseph Kienzle: Son (3 years old)
Jane was a well respected chapter president of the United Federated Planets Starfleet Command. She was faithful in sending in her chapter reports and was a very active UFP Starfleet Command officer. She will be very missed by myself and all of the UFP. Her memory will live on within the UFP because of the good things her chapter did under her command for the UFP and her community. Everyone is welcome to send their condolences to her family at the above e-mail address or by snail mail to: Chuck Kienzle; 209 Brugh Ave.; Butler, PA 16001. Jane will be sorely missed by me and everyone who had the honor of knowing her.
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LYNN CORNWELL
JAN. 27, 1940 + AUG. 20, 1998
Lynn left this world on August 20, 1998 after a long battle with cancer and she will always be a major part of the UFP and missed by everyone who knew her. Lynn has gone to the Final Frontier to join Gene Roddenberry on the Greatest Adventure of all, eternal life.
DIPLOMATIC CORPS DIRECTOR 1990-1998
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTO OF LYNN
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTO OF K'LYNN
Lynn served as the Starfleet Command Diplomatic Corps Director for 9 years and was responsible for the various alien races that are not associated with the UFP and prepared or inspected treaties with these alien races for the UFP President to review and approve. She held the Starfleet Command service rank of Admiral, served as the chapter president for the USS Delta Prime and served on the UFP Council.
Lynn and her chapter collected aluminum can tops for the Ronald McDonald House of Southwest Florida as their charity work.
In Memoriam:
I will always remember Lynn as a kind, caring and very loving person who never asked for sympathy or pity while she suffered the great pain of her cancer and the chemotherapy which ultimately burned a hole in her esophagus which prevented her from enjoying solid foods during the last days of her life on this earth. She always put others before herself and made sure others were comfortable and safe before taking care of herself. I truly loved her as she loved me and Laura and everyone she knew. Although I know she is in a better place now where she no longer suffers and can eat whatever she wants to partake of, I miss her and I always will miss her.
Lynn would not want us to dwell on her passing but to rather rejoice in the life she shared with us and the way she made each of our lives just a little more enjoyable and bright by having shared in her friendship and love. So, let us never forget Lynn Cornwell and always be happy for the time we had with her and for the way she did touch each of our hearts and souls and made us just a little better person for the sharing. Be happy in knowing that she will never suffer any pain again and that she is now watching over each of us, side by side with Gene Roddenberry and the Lord. For as long as we each remember her in a positive way, she will always live in our hearts forever.
Greetings Mike,
I wish I was writing you under different circumstances. I myself learned of Lynn
Cornwell's passing early this am and was shocked. When I visited her last Fri. 8/14/98 she
looked pretty ill and very tired, but as usual, her bravado and really neat personal views
on life shined through. She joked with me about her current situation...and told me not
worry...said she was just going to reach heaven before the rest of us and she'd let us
know how really cool it was. I admit it brought a tear to my eye to see just how much
she'd been through and here she was trying to make me smile. What a brave and refreshing
outlook on life and that which follows. She even told me that there'd be days that I'd
feel someone tapping me on the shoulder and it would be her. Well I've gotta admit that on
those gray days I'm going to have a smile on my face just thinking about her looking over
my shoulder. Well I guess she's up there now in the company of Gene Roddenberry, my Dad,
& my Grandparents, whom I love dearly and I know she's in good company.
Robin
The USS De LaBelle's deepest sympathies go out
to the family and friends of Lynn Cornwell. She will be missed dearly.
Sincerely
Captain Paul Rue
USS De LaBelle
Lynn Cornwell was born January 27, 1940 and departed
this world August 20, 1998
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LARRY MILO GIRARDOT
Went to be with the Lord May 3, 1999
I would like to inform you of my husband, Larry Milo Girardot's death on May 3, (1999) at around 2AM.
Cathie Christy flew to Sacramento, CA virtually on the spur of the moment to aid me in the closing of my husband's affairs. She has been a God send to my family and myself.
Larry's death was totally unexpected. He had an onset sudden cardiac arrest. I would like to include my eulogy in this letter:
The first time I saw Larry was at a friend of mine's birthday party, November 29, 1974. Larry thought that I was pretty, but he was told, when he asked about me: "You don't want anything to do with her, she is forty years old and has two children." Larry believed him, until he asked me upfront about my age and my two kids. I was twenty and did not have any children!
I think that my friend was having too much fun going places and doing things with me, and he didn't want Larry interfering.
Larry persisted on meeting me and getting to know me.
We had good conversations. I found out that he and I, even though, we had been raised in two entirely different atmospheres, had the same values and ideas. I never thought that I could have a relationship with a man as easily and comfortably as with one of my closest girlfriends.
When I would go out on a date, I could not eat or drink anything for several hours before the date, otherwise I would get sick to my stomach, which didn't make for a very fun evening.
Larry was the only man that I dated, who didn't make me nervous or stressed out.
The next time we met, a current boyfriend, a friend, Larry and I were out bowling. That is really the time that I started noticing Larry, as I was looking for a way out of my current relationship.
Larry started going over to my friend's home just to see if I would show up, and most times I did. I was impressed with Larry's intelligence and his quiet nature.
He didn't engage in idle conversation. And when he spoke, he always had something worth saying.
Larry liked to keep me on my toes, he would subtly manipulate me. And it would take me awhile to figure out that it wasn't my idea or thought, but that it was Larry's!
He challenged me to use my mind.
Larry was determined to marry me, I, on the other hand, had no intentions of marrying anyone.
But I soon found out how much Larry wanted to marry me, when we first started to date, I was currently going to a class at the local college, Larry would pick me up from my home, drive me across town to class, wait three hours for my class to be dismissed, then he would take me out for a soda and we would talk.
This action impressed me very much, I questioned, 'why would someone want to sit outside in the cold outdoors waiting for me, I had thought that I wasn't worth that kind of action.
I knew that God had led Larry to me.
Larry had a great sense of humor, he was often joking with his friends.
Larry looked for the good in people and he gravitated towards others who would normally be shunned or outcast.
I had told Larry that I didn't want any children.
As my love for Larry grew, so did my desire to make him happy, and he wanted to add to our happy little family, of one cat and some little fishies.
Two years later, our daughter, Hilary Joyce was born. Larry was so proud of her, she was the apple of his eye, she could do no wrong, and of course, she and I would constantly butt our heads.
Then we decided to adopt a baby. Larry wanted a 'manly' name for our son, and he named him Matthew Jason.
Larry and I had some difficult times during our years, but who does not?
There was a time when we were separated, but I was reassured by God that He would cause Larry's heart to soften and return to his family. Larry never once faltered to support his family while he was absent from us.
If you noticed most of the pictures that were taken of Larry, he is making faces, Larry was a ham in front of the camera. He always seemed to ruin that one true Kodak moment with a silly face. (my girlfriend and I made a beautiful collage of many pictures taken all the way from babyhood to adulthood.
Larry always had a kind word for people that he met. He would go out of his way to help someone fix a car, motorcycle, trailer, camper.
He was very good at mickey mousing things and amazingly they would work! For a short time, but they would work.
Larry had deep ties with his family, it seemed that he was always running out the door to help one of his brothers, or his sister, or his mother.
This was one of the things that I really liked about him. I was always told to look at how a man treats his mother. Larry treated her very well, so I was safe on that account.
The Lord has constantly prepared and blessed my journey. He caused Larry to desire to belong to The Home Church and he and I were introduce to the congregation as new members in the evening service, as if that was not enough, the Lord prompted Larry to follow Him in the believer's baptism that same evening.
Only a few hours later, the Lord called Larry home.
The morning that I found Larry's body in the living room, Hilary was not at home. I know that she would have been unable to handle seeing her dad in the condition his body appeared.
I thank God that she will have only positive recent memories of her dad.
While the commotion was going on in our living room, once again the Lord was working. Matthew slept through the whole thing. Pastor Tim was here to help with telling Matthew about his dad. So you see, the Lord really has his hand in all areas of our lives.
When we called VMT to talk to them about his benefits, I was shocked to learn that Larry carried no life insurance.
The funeral home requires cash upfront unless a certified life insurance policy can be assigned to them to cover their costs. As Larry didn't have life insurance this appeared to be a brick wall, what was I to use to pay the mortuary?
We called VMT once again, and asked if Larry had any vacation pay coming to him. We were told he had about $600 minus taxes due him.
We requested that a check be dispersed right away to pay the cash advance needed to cover immediate mortuary expenses. Which they agreed to do.
We went to the bank after receiving the check only to find out that I could not cash it out. I was overdrawn in our account and the monies due would have encroached upon the amount that I needed for the mortuary. We were stumbling over this obstacle, until I looked into my purse and between Cathie and I, we were able to come up with the amount to bring the account current and had just enough for the money order for the mortuary. Again, the Lord provided for our need. What a great God we serve!
The remainder of the monies due to the mortuary will be covered exactly to the penny by Larry's 401K disbursement.
My God is a great God and He surely is Jehovah Jireh.
Jesus is my Lamb, and He is my Lion. He is my perfect provision for all I will ever need. Praise the Lord that Jehovah Jireh saw ahead, and made provision: He gave me Himself.
Sincerely,
Janet Girardot
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