TAPS

TAPS

LT Sol J. "Salty Sol" Fleischman, USCGR (Ret.), 89, of Sun City Center, Fla., passed away April 20, 2000. Born Sept. 10, 1910 in Hawkinsville, Ga., he was a well-known Tampa Bay radio and television personality and a true pioneer in broadcasting. An Eagle scout, he served in the Coast Guard aboard the USS Huron (PF-19) as a damage control officer during World War II. He began his broadcasting career at 18 doing play-by-play of football games by telegraph at WDAE-AM and began his TV career with WTVT/Channel 13 in 1956 with a nightly sports and fishing show. He was also part of Channel 13’s daily morning show with Ernie Lee. He interviewed sports personalities from Babe Ruth to Babe Zaharias, from former Coast Guard Reservist Jack Dempsey to Pete Rose. He fished with President Hoover, baseball great Ted Williams, golfer Jimmy Demaret, musician Benny Goodman and beer magnate Gussie Busch.

Among his many awards and honors, he was inducted into the International Fishing Hall of Fame, Tampa Sports Hall of Fame and elected to the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. Twice he was named Florida’s No. 1 Conservationist. In 1988, the Gandy Boulevard boat ramp at the Coast Guard Auxiliary building was renamed the "Hillsborough County Salty Sol Fleischman Boat Ramp" by the Tampa City Council. He considered that his greatest honor. He is survived by his wife, Helen; two sons, Sol, Jr. and Marty; stepsons Mike Sweat and Don Corwin; brothers David and Joe; sisters Adeline Rosenblatt, Freda Rosenblatt, and Florine Fleischman; five grandchildren. At his request, there was no funeral service and he was cremated. Donations can be sent in his name to the Tampa Bay History Center, P.O. Box 948, Tampa, FL 33601. 813-228-0097.

• LT Anton C. Peterson, USCG (Ret.), 100, of Long Beach, Calif., passed away March 24, 2000 of natural causes. He had just turned 100 years old on March 5. Born in Newman Grove, Neb. he traveled by wagon with his older brother to the Lutheran Orphanage in Stoughton, Wis. when he was three years old and joined the Navy at 16. He served 24 years in the Coast Guard including service as engineering officer aboard the USS Sellstrom. He retired from the Coast Guard Aug. 1, 1947. In 1992, he was awarded the "Quality of Life Award" by the Wrigley Association for his help and guidance of children. His son, Ronald, preceded him in death as did his wife, Naomi Hoffeld, in 1956. He is survived by three daughters, Diane Marshall of Lakewood, Calif., Nadine Cash of Rio Rancho, N.M., and Esther Smith of Shelby, Ala.; 14 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. He was cremated with interment at Green Hills Memorial Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. on March 30, 2000.

• LTJG Jason "Jay" W. Olguin, USCG, 26, of Carpinteria, Calif., passed away March 12, 2000, in Salem County, N.J. from severe trauma from a car accident on the Delaware Bridge. Born in San Pedro, Calif. on Feb. 8, 1974, he graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1997. His first assignment was aboard CGC Hamilton in Long Beach, Calif. He then transferred to Atlantic Area staff in Portsmouth, Va. and was assigned to International Relations at the time of his passing. He is survived by his wife, LTJG Suzanne C. Benko, USCGR, of Chesapeake, Va., parents Fred and Anna Olguin of Carpinteria, sister Tina Webb, paternal grandparents Gustav and Elise Olguin of Buellton, Calif., maternal grandfather Robert Martin of Garden Grove, Calif. Funeral services were held March 21 at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Barbara, Calif. Interment at Carpinteria Cemetery with full military honors, including an HH-65 flyover.

• CWO4 Norman R. Hettman, USCGR (Ret.), 78, passed away May 1, 2000 at Angel’s Touch Care home in Bullhead City, Ariz. Born and raised in the Alhambra/Pasadena, Calif. area, he was an Eagle scout who then served in the Navy during World War II and served in South America, Australia and the Middle East, and on the Victory Ship O’Henry. In 1945, he earned his wings as a blimp pilot at Moffatt Field, Calif. He received a Silver Star and other medals for his WWII service. After the war, he worked for the Pacific Telephone Company until he retired after 35 years of service. He also retired from the Coast Guard in 1981 with a total of 42 years years of military service. Active in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, he was a Division Vice Captain, boating safety instructor, and vessel examiner who patrolled Lake Mohave in his vessel Norche and became known as "Mr. Coast Guard" in Bullhead City. He is survived by his wife, Blanche Hettman, sister Shirley Embree, daughter Sandra Long, sons Norman R. Hettman Jr. and John Bartkus, granddaughters and great-grandchildren. Memorial services were held on May 20, 2000 at United Hope Methodist in Bullhead City. There will be a private military burial at sea at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Arizona Alzheimer’s Association, 1028 E. McDonald Road, Phoenix, AZ 85006.

• PSCS Charles H. Fewster, USCGR (Ret.), 67, of Arbutus, Md., passed away March 26, 2000. Born and raised in Baltimore, he served with the Navy Seabees from 1950-53 before joining the Coast Guard Reserve. He served at the Coast Guard Yard Firehouse at Curtis Bay, Md. before retiring in 1990, and was a retired Captain of the Baltimore City Fire Department. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte, two sons, Michael of Baltimore and Robert of Arbutus, Md.; a daughter, Deborah Sprucebank of Bel Air, Md.; his mother Margaret Marie Fewster of Arbutus; a brother, Philip of Towson, Md.; two sisters, Anna Miller of Arbutus and Cathy Clayton of Elizabeth, Colo; four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. A funeral Mass was held March 30 at Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church, Arbutus, Md. Interment Meadowridge Memorial Park, Elkridge, Md.

• BMC David D. Donnelly, USCGR, 52, of Bedford, Texas passed away March 9, 2000. Born in Oceanside, N.Y., Dec. 25, 1947, he served 34 years in the Coast Guard. He was a Vietnam veteran who served on active duty from 1966 to 1974. He was assigned to CG Reserve Unit Dallas in 1974, served during the Persian Gulf War and was Executive Petty Officer of Coast Guard Station Texoma, Texas. He was a strong advocate of the "One Coast Guard" concept and his devotion to duty and dedication to the Coast Guard will be missed. As a civilian, he was as a computer engineer for the Sabre Group. He is survived by his wife Gloria, son Wayne, sister Nancy, and brothers Douglas and Donald. A memorial service with full military honors and a burial at sea was conducted by Coast Guard Sabine Pass, Texas, his last Coast Guard duty station, on April 9, 2000.