Class News

Today's Featured Biography

 
Albert Paton

I wasn't at our graduation. I had taken off for Hattiesburg, MS along with Bonnie Iffert to join up with 143 other high school band members in the United States of America High School Band for a six-week tour of the country and down into Mexico. Great trip.

Back from that and it was off to FSU for Marching Chiefs band camp and school. I graduated in 1967 with a BMEd with aspirations of being a junior high school band director. My tuba professor at FSU stepped in and recruited me into the Navy so it was off to OCS in Newport where I was commissioned in March 1968. In June of 1968 I married Carol Sackett (NEHI 1964) (Some of you will know her Dad, Bob, from Mirror Lake JH and Carol from Christ Methodist Church.)

Twenty-four and a half years later after duty in Newport, RI; San Diego, CA (3 times); Guam; Pearl Harbor, HI; Great Lakes, IL; Mayport, FL; Pensacola, FL; and Naples, Italy; duty on six ships; command of two; fourteen moves and four kids (Holly in 1970; Heidi in 1972, Bob in 1976 and Heather in 1980. We lost Bob to Melanoma in 2009.) We retired to Ft. Myers, FL where Captain Paton "retired" and Mrs. Paton started full-time work in July 1992.

Carol was hired as Director of Music Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Ft. Myers. During that time, we moved my mother down there from St Pete. It was great for the kids to have "Grammy" so close, and Carol's folks in St. Pete, after all the years of separation and moving. We still had two at home...high school and middle school.

I didn't stay "retired" long and became the Executive Director of the Lee County Humane Society.

When Mom passed away in 1996, we packed up again and headed back to San Diego for the fourth time to be near our two oldest daughters and first of what would become six grandchildren.

Carol became Director of Music Ministries at Foothills United Methodist Church in La Mesa, CA and I went to work for National Car Rental as a corporate trainer and became manager of the airport location here in San Diego. After ten years with National I took a part time position with a defense contractor and taught ship handling for the Navy in San Diego. Great gig!

During a physical in 2010 my liver function readings were noted to be out of norm and following a year of frequent lab work, Cat Scans and MRIs I was diagnosed in 2011 with HCC (Hepatocellular Carcinoma - Liver Cancer) and that a transplant would be required. Thanks to some great doctors, the world's best primary caregiver, a lot of prayers and an anonymous donor I received a new liver on May 18, 2012 (my secondary birthday.) I am blessed to have a new lease on life and spend intentional time now walking, swimming, and working out to help with my recovery.

Our time in San Diego was spent enjoying time with our family, being active in our church and enjoying moments sailing and of course still working part time. Full retirement will follow...I hope we have enough time for all we want to do.

In August of 2016 Carol accepted a position as a grief facilitator with Anderson - McQueen Funeral Home here in St Pete and we relocated back to St. Pete to also be near Carol's Mom.

We volunteer as ushers at the Mahaffey Theater and enjoy all the wonderful programs offered there. As pay back for my liver transplant I volunteer at Tampa General Hospital and as a liver transplant mentor, visiting patients pre and post-transplant and sharing my journey with patients at their orientation to the transplant program. I also volunteer with Lifelink of Florida, the Organ Procurement Organization for central Florida, as an "Organizer" at community health fairs, at the DMV and other school and community appearances recruiting organ donors. I also volunteer with the Kairos Prison Ministry Program at the Zephyrhills Correctional Institute.

One thing I've discovered about "retirement" is that you need a bigger calendar. Carol and I were blessed to celebrate our 50th anniversary this past June with all our children here to help with the celebration.

p.s. If you are not already a registered organ donor...please make it a priority. It saves lives.

Recent update as of Aug 27, 2018. Since moving back to St. Pete, in 2016 I had three episodes of Atrial Fibrillation requiring electro-cardioversion. Follow-on testing found two partially clogged arteries and a leaking mitral valve. SO, on August 1, 2018, I joined the ranks of the "Zipper Club". Doctors completed a triple bypass, repaired the mitral valve, "and while they were in there" completed a Maze Procedure, which is supposed to prevent atrial fibulation in the future.

Rehab is going well and I'm looking forward to walking over the Skyway Bridge again next March at the second annual Race/Walk event supporting the Local Military Families Foundation.

Carol is now the Director of Music Ministries back at Christ United Methodist church.

2023 update - Still in St Petersburg and active with a variety of volunteer activities. We celebrated our fifty fifth wedding anniversary this past June, and now have our first great grandchild. Life is good.

VIEW ALL BIOGRAPHIES

U.S. Armed Forces

Class Poll

Featured Links

Visit Other Classes