George Samuel Pupich lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on Dec. 4, 2017. He was born in the San Fernando Valley in 1937 to his loving Serbian parents. He was the youngest of two brothers and one sister. In 1956 he entered the second graduating Class of 1960 at the newly constructed Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. He was one of the outstanding football players as a junior tailback and 1st team kicker for the 1958 Cotton Bowl team that gained national recognition as the only undefeated football team in AF Academy history.

After graduation, George became a fighter pilot and in 1965 was assigned as the aide de camp to Lt. Gen. Joe Moore, the commander of the 2nd Air Division, RVN. As the aide, George was not satisfied with a wartime desk job; so, he requested and was assigned to the 602nd Air Commando Squadron flying A1Es along with his aide position in Vietnam. In 1967, he resigned his commission after being disenchanted with the U.S.'s conduct of the war in Vietnam. He then served as an airline pilot, first for Western Airlines, and then for Delta Airlines after their merger and until his retirement in 1997. He was married to Diana Costello, the love of his life, in 1989 and had two sons and three grandchildren. As empty nesters, in 1994 George and Diana settled back in Colorado Springs where George concentrated on family, friends, AFA football and sponsorship of many cadet football players.

As a former '58 Cotton Bowl football player and teammate, I became reacquainted with George after he retired and moved back to Colorado Springs. We became fast and furious buddies because of our passion for football, cigars and scotch. I dearly loved George like the older brother I never had but always wanted. George was always kind hearted, held all his friends in the highest regard and loved and was deeply committed to his immediate and extended family. He was also an excellent businessman, pistachio farmer, limited partner in a local golf course and owner of a refurbished B-25, all of which added financial security and diversity for his entire family.

Most impressively, he lived the Academy core values well before they were initiated and embedded at the AF Academy. He always insisted on doing the right thing, whether it was paying his share of the bill, contributing to a worthy cause or simply helping someone in need. You could always rely on George to assist anyone in any way he could. He was always thinking of others before himself. He epitomized the saying that "the true measure of a man is his willingness to help someone who in no way can help him back!"

George was humble and felt uncomfortable in the spotlight; preferring always to put the spotlight on others rather than on him. He was, throughout his life, a man of the highest principles. Moreover, he was extremely courageous as a combat warrior, as a fierce athlete on the fields of friendly strife and especially in his personal battle with an unconquerable foe. I was with George right up to his final hours, and he never once complained about his condition or about the pain he was enduring. It was comforting to know that George was a spiritual man who believed in God and God's mercy and love for us all. We will all miss his smile, his touch and his company, but his memory will live on to warm our hearts until we are all reunited once again.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers donations can be made to Abode Hospice of Colorado Springs, Wounded Warriors or the Caring Bridge.

(Randy Cubero, USAFA 1961, football teammate and dear friend)