Ugly Angels,
It is with great sadness that we report the untimely death of Colonel Thomas J. McKnight, USMCR (Ret).
Tom slipped on the ice coating his steps and fell on Friday evening, rupturing his spleen, breaking two ribs, and fracturing two vertebrae. A few hours after the surgeon removed his spleen, Tom became unstable and went into cardiac arrest. From there on things went downhill and he died Saturday.
Carol and the family have asked for time to absorb their loss and grieve. Plans call for Tom to be cremated and interred at Quantico National Cemetery with full military honors. When plans are finalized, we will let you know.
While the family requests privacy, sending your condolences to Carol and the family is appropriate. Please address them to:
Mrs. Thomas J. McKnight
9800 Cherokee Road
Richmond, VA 23235
Gents, once again we have lost a beloved broth, one of our finest. May he rest in peace!
Semper Fi,
Board of Directors, Ugly Angel Memorial Foundation
Tom McKnight
Though he passed away in Richmond on December 20, Tom was a true New Yorker at heart. After graduation from Fordham, Tom joined the Marine Corps – serving in Viet Nam as an H-34 helicopter pilot. After his discharge, Tom worked for Pfizer for 34 years and served in the Marine Corps reserves flying H-46's and H-53's, retiring as Colonel.
Tom was a true renaissance man: A voracious reader and passionate about the arts, politics, history, geography, carpentry, inventing, gardening, cooking, oil painting, and restoring old Jaguars. He was a dancing fool, and loved a good party and conversation. As Scout Master he was so proud that 10 of his cubs went on to become Eagle Scouts.
Tom was a proud papa, husband, son and brother. He leaves behind his wife Carol and their fantastic kids Lauren, Emily and Guyon, and daughter-in-law Kim. He loved his mother, Olga Schern, his brothers Roger and Howard, his sister in law Rosemary, and his nieces Krissy, Claudia and Christine.
A memorial mass will be said for Tom at St. Edward's Catholic Church at 12:00, Sat. January 9th. Casual Dress. Interment will be at Quantico National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Boy Scouts.
We lost a great American,family man, and Marine on December 20th.
Semper Fi,
W. Rick "Banker" Webster
HMM 165