On July 3, 1993 Leon F. Molinelli, Class of 1960, succumbed to cancer at his home in Novato, Calif.

Leon, known to his friends as "Mo", arrived at Lowry AFB on that historic first day, July 11, 1955. He was a good student and a superb athlete. He was the first four-sport letterman to graduate from Pocatello, Idaho. Mo soloed before arriving at the Academy and was an avid outdoorsman. He was active in the aero club, gun club, ski club and was on the Academy gymnastics and ski teams. He joined the Class of '60 during our third-class year after falling victim to the Archie Higdon curve.

My first recollection of Mo was in early September 1955 following doolie summer. It was our first Saturday night at Arnold Hall. Mo, already an accomplished gymnast, gave the Cadet Wing (all 300 of us plus our dates) a trampoline demonstration I shall always remember. He bounced so high I still can't believe he didn't crash into the ceiling. But, that was the way Mo lived his life, exciting, right on the edge, always pushing the limits.

Mo's participation on the Academy ski team almost ended his life and temporarily sidetracked his career. While practicing for the long jump, he experienced a horrendous fall rendering him unconscious for several hours. He suffered dreadful headaches for a few months and delayed his entry into pilot training for nine months.

After serving as a pilot training instructor and later as a general's aide, Mo departed the Air Force in 1966. He joined United Airlines and spent the next 26 years flying the friendly skies. He continued skiing and was a member of the UAL ski team. He loved to hunt and fish and enjoyed the outdoors. He was in the final stages of building a new cabin on the Snake River in Idaho at the time of his death. Mo was the owner and operator of a scuba diving school for seven years and took many of his students on diving expeditions to the Grand Cayman Islands. He owned a 28 foot boat that he used regularly for bay and ocean fishing.

Although Mo terminated his active duty Air Force career early, he always remained one of us. He maintained lifetime friendships established during his Academy and Air Force years. Due to the duration and finality of his illness, Leon was able to select his own headstone which is embossed with Air Force pilot's wings.

Mo is survived by his wife, Betty, and daughters Michele Ruberto and Nicole Molinelli.

Mo's headstone was placed in the family plot in Pocatello, Idaho. Instead of internment, his ashes were divided among 15 envelopes and given to dear friends to dispose of as they saw fit. We know that Leon is currently enjoying duty in Alaska, Idaho, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana and California. Well, wherever you are Mo, check six and rock your wings, we'll all be joining up again.

(Greg Boyington, Jr., '60)