My wife called me at work today (28 Sep 15) and said that Chris Anzalone had died. Immense sadness for us all, because he was a wonderful human, a great Air Force officer, a fantastic family man, and my, and I think Sharon's, oldest friend.
Early in my first Air Force assignment, I was a somewhat socially awkward introverted young Lieutenant who really had very little beyond good intelligence and dedication to country and duty going for him. I was painfully aware that I did not quite fit in with the post-work-day life of the rest of the base there at Mountain Home, Idaho. This all started to change when a new guy showed up at the EF-111A Test Team at our little Tactical Air Warfare Center (TAWC) detachment. And here is how that was:
One day, in the early part of 1982, a new Weapon Systems Operator (WSO) had been brought into our EF-111A test team trailer, located just a few hundred yards from the end of the runway at Mt. Home, or Mt. Goat as it was affectionately known. Eventually I went over to greet the new guy, and Chris seemed like he was going to be someone special from the start. A very positive man, with an incredibly all inclusive "lets get this done and have some fun" outlook. He fit right in with the team from the start, knew and was liked by a lot of the other crews, and from the start included the admin and geeks in the daily office pleasantries. It seems like only a few weeks later he was inviting me to come meet his wife Renee and two year old daughter Tina for dinner and socialization, and soon I, and other members of both the team and others from the base EF-111 community were playing Dungeons and Dragons at his home several times a month. I was a pretty decent dungeon master, and since Renee preferred to be the perfect hostess during the games all had a great time and this kept on for the whole time I was there. We also drank copiously at times, which - given that we were all young - was not a bad thing except for possibly reducing our brain cell count, since the Anzalones would not allow me to drive home drunk and so I often ended up spending the night on their very comfortable couch. They threw parties for their large group of friends that I was at, and made sure that I went to the Officer's club including many of the social events that a real Air Force Base used to have, and invited my help and offered theirs for the many home improvement projects that we, and other friends, had. While I was not nearly as good a host, they came over the few times I had any event, and I am sure that was why the events did well. And when their sons, Eric and Robert, were born it became obvious that Chris could handle the challenges and joys of having a bigger family as well. Chris and Renee, like a lot of military people and their God-sent spouses, had a difficult situation, mixing family and work that demands many separations and often long hours. Over time, they were so good with the three kids that I lost my aversion to having kids of my own and was not aghast when Kristi and Chip were born a few years later. At work Chris was a fully involved very valuable member of the tactics development team, and had no problem leading informal meetings to help plan the wide variety of tests that we had to put the EF-111 Raven through to show what it could do for the warfighter. Always a cool headed thinker, a suggestor of alternatives, a bridge between the operational world and the geeks. And fun to be around.
Eventually I met Sharon, and the Anzalones took to her immediately, helping her to see the social aspects of the Air Force world that she would be a part of if she decided to stick with me. I cannot count the number of times they helped me get through rough spots when my lack of understanding women became frustrating enough to have me nearly banging my head on a wall, nor can I count the number of times they celebrated the good times that Sharon and I had that I believe helped us to see how wonderful the other was. When we decided to get married they helped us celebrate the homecoming, and Sharon could not say enough about how much Chris and Renee meant to her.
Over the years, we kept in touch, and spent time together when we were in the Pentagon at the same time twice. It was great being around them whenever we could be. Spending time in their basement after we returned from Crete, hosting them at our place when they moved, seeing Chris in the Pentagon from time to time whether at a promotion party or for a quick lunch. One of the few regrets I have of my last few years in the military and the years since is that I did not make more time to spend with them.
Chris was a special man, and despite him not being a pilot, even the Air Force realized that, and he ended up retiring as a Major General. Chip and I had a most memorable visit when he pinned on his first star in 03, going to Eglin AFB to help set up the party at their quarters and participate in the ceremony, party, and spend a few days in the guest house. That was a great time, and I treasure those memories to this day. Sharon and I were at his second star ceremony, and the party at his house as well. Soon after that they moved to Huntsville, and I, not a good traveler, did not see them again until this Valentines day week when we drove down to see Tina get married. As was always the case throughout the years, the positive energy that Chris brought to pretty much everything he touched was in full force, and his bringing together of old friends and good people made for enjoyment and good memories.
And now he is gone. I have faith in God, but still feel hurt by my friend being taken while he should have had much more time to continue with his family. Moving to the South, perhaps not to Huntsville but to an area not that far away if we can ever leave here, is one of my possible choices, and a big part of that is to spend some time with the Anzalones, Yes, Chris and Renee were that big a part of my life. Now I feel horrible for Renee, Christina, Eric and Robert, and their extended family, since they have lost a wonderful husband, father, brother and cousin. God, please give them, and us, comfort and let Chris be waiting for us all when it is our time to leave this Earth.
