Colonel (Ret) John “Steve” Crook, a recent resident of Riverview, Florida left us on December 13, 2013. He passed away unexpectedly at home. Steve was 62 years old, born in Montreal, Quebec on October 31, 1951. Steve began his long and prestigious career in the “Air” in Civil Air Patrol in Ft. Lauderdale in 1965. Steve earned an ROTC scholarship and graduated from his beloved Florida State in 1973. He was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force and served for 26 years. His education included graduation from Air Command & Staff College, Air War College and 2 Masters Degrees (engineering and hospital management). He was also a private pilot. Some of the many accomplishments he was most proud of include being promoted to: Director of the Space Transportation Test Team in Patrick AFB, Chief of Mission Operations Systems for NASA, Commander of Shemya Air Force Base in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands and Director of Operations for Air Force Space Command. He retired as a Colonel from Offut AFB in 1999, where he was the Commander for the Missile Analysis Center with Strategic Air Command. Some of the medals he was awarded were: 3 Air Force Commendation Medals, 3 Meritorious Service Awards, 3 Defense Meritorious Service Awards and the Defense Superior Medal. After retirement from the Air Force, he worked with Northrop Grumman on the National Missile Defense Team until 2006. Steve loved the beach and he was a “Techie” Geek, always searching for new gadgets. An avid football fan especially for the Bronco’s and his Alma Mater, FSU. For the first time this year, Steve got to enjoy all of the FSU “Noles” home games. He was so happy there. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Martha Edson, John Joseph Crook and sister, Joann Sharon Davis. Steve is survived by his wife , Berneice “BeBe” Blackmore Crook, children and step children: Mike Crook and wife, Sarah; Lauren Crook Bates and husband, Johnny; Michael Palmieri; Tawnya Ramirez and husband, Franky; Sisters: Donna Rudner and husband, Merv; Faith Johnsen and husband, Bob; Brother Richard Crook; 5 awesome grandkids Joshua, Julie, Justice, Eli, and Grayson; many cherished nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews; all his doggies, especially Bandit and Champ. Steve’s dream was to one day go into space; he did not make it in this life but he will be honored in death and his remains will be launched into space in April 2014 from New Mexico then returned home.
“From the stars we are born and to the stars we will return”, on eagle’s wings, Hon. UNTIL THE 12th.
