Thomas F. Elek – 50th Reunion Essay

Thomas F. Elek

Summerville, SC 29485

tomelek1369@yahoo.com

843-696-8134

Spouse(s): Faye (1970-74); Debbie (1981-2005)

Child(ren): Michele (1971); Jennifer (1981); Ryan (1982); Krystyn (1988); Jason (1991); Brittany (1992)

Grandchild(ren): Angelika (1988); Jacob (2004); Jonathan (2006); April (2006); Jackson (2009); Aubrey (2010)

Education: Yale BA 1969; Webster University 1997

National Service: USMC Major 1973 – 1993

Career: 20 years as Marine Aviator and Instructor; United Way for 22 years

College: Calhoun (Hopper)

Unlike some classmates who became leaders of industry, medicine, and in one case, the free world, I have led a pretty mundane life. Happily for me, it was a life that allowed me to never work—as I looked forward to each day’s labors.

After graduating, I joined the Army Reserves to avoid the draft (very low number) and was trained as a medic. After six months training, during which I met my first wife, I returned to New Haven, worked at Yale New Haven and then moved to upstate New York where I worked a variety of jobs searching for my niche. In ’73, I found it when I joined the Marines and completed aviation training. I spent the next 20 years flying in the backseat of the F-4 Phantom (2,000 hours) and various other fighter aircraft. I was young, adventurous, fearless (see photo), could whip my weight in Russian MIGS. I graduated from TopGun and then became a weapons and tactics instructor for the Corps. My duties carried me to 48 states and 31 foreign countries. Adventures and scares too numerous to mention, but an adventure every moment. I met my second wife in the Corps and we served together for eight years until I retired as a major.

After retiring, I went to work for the Charleston, South Carolina, United Way and became part of an organization that helped tens of thousands of local residents each year. For 22 years I served as the special projects director—a designation that gave me a plethora of duties and never allowed a dull day. From IT (an MS in information systems) to regional conferences to renovations to allocations to whatever duties others did not want or could not handle. My Yale education was my backbone as I found little that was daunting—only challenges in different ways. I saw very few nine-hour days, but as with flying, the job satisfying and rewarding. I burned out in 2015 and retired. These days, my hobby is being a part-time realtor. My avocation is enjoying life with my six kids, six grandchildren and one great-grand.

My children have made me proud; one army veteran, one 3-time hockey All-American (who turned down Yale for Amherst), and three of my kids working for various colleges as I write. I will not be remembered in 50 years, and I still watch my budget. But life has been good. No regrets.