MEMORIAL RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF MAY 15, 2012
Title
MEMORIAL RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners extending sympathy and condolences to Commissioner Frank Avila and his family on the passing of his brother Commander Richard Frank Avila, United States Navy, Retired
Body
WHEREAS, Commander Richard Frank Avila, United States Navy, Nuclear Submarine Warfare (Retired) received "Selection for Command": "Please accept my personal congratulations on screening for the number one job in the Navy, Commanding Officer, and best wishes for continued success in your future assignments," on July 9, 1982, from O.E. Osborn, Commodore, US Navy; and,
WHEREAS, "Commander Avila has demonstrated exceptional professionalism in all aspects of his performance. He displayed superb knowledge, persistence, and foresight..."; "...an exceptionally capable officer who has effectively employed his outstanding technical background in both strategic weapons and strategic navigation. He repeatedly demonstrated innovative thinking and unusual foresight...; "CDR Avila is an OUTSTANDING Executive Officer... " by A. B. Scott, Jr., Commander Submarine Force, US Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii according to his June 11, 1983, US Navy Fitness Report; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) "completed long term projects to produce three departmental organization manuals for TRIDENT class SSBNs. The unique configuration of this class required extensive modification of the standard organization manuals and his efforts resulted in major improvements in ship's operating procedures and administrative organization"; and,
WHEREAS, "Commander Avila's superb professional performance, initiative, and loyal dedication to duty throughout reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service"; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) followed in his Dad's patriotic steps to serve in the US Military even though he chose the US Navy rather than his Dad's choice of the US Army during WWII; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) enlisted as a Seaman in 1961 and retired as a Commander in 1987 serving 26 years in the US Navy within the submarine warfare community; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) graduated from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, June 1969 with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Engineering Physics; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) married his first wife Donna Eileen Holladay August 19, 1967 in Lawrence, Kansas, and they had four children: James "Jimmy" Eugene Avila; deceased Robert Russell Avila; fraternal twins Richard Frank Avila, Jr. and Elena Marie (Nee: Avila) Strom; whom he dearly loved; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) joined the American Legion and the Elks Lodge; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) was assigned Submarine duties that included various classes of diesel and nuclear powered submarines, including attack and missile firing ships. He was submerged under sea for six months duty and sometimes longer when there was a security alert. Shore assignments included submarine training and operational commands; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) served as Weapons Officer and Nuclear Safety Officer on the Gold Crew of the USS Patrick Henry a George Washington class nuclear-powered fleet ballistic missile submarine of the US Navy that was later converted into an attack submarine designed specifically to fire Polaris ballistic missiles from underwater or surface positions. According to his Fitness report of 4-13-1970, "He participated in two Polaris submarine deterrent patrols in an environment of great operational stress requiring keen professional judgement." He transferred Interfleet from Bremerton, Washington Pacific Fleet to Groton, Connecticut Atlantic Fleet 12-2-1971; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) also served on the Gold Crew of the USS Thomas Edison, the only nuclear submarine that housed a full-sized Steinway piano while conducting 19 deterrent patrols in the Mediterranean; operating out of Rota, Spain a joint Spanish and U.S. naval base which also hosted U.S. Marine and Air Force units; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) served the USS Proteus as the Executive Officer and Navigator and according to his Fitness Report of December 2, 1983, "CDR AVILA is an outstanding Executive Officer. ...His level-headed and reasonable approach to the day to day operations of a large command are very well appreciated by all levels on board. He is clearly a positive influence on all the officers and men. ...In summary, CDR AVILA is performing a difficult, demanding job in an ABSOLUTELY SUPERB fashion."; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) completed the training for the NAVIGATION OFFICER POLARIS COURSE at the Naval Guided Missiles School, Dam Neck, VA 12-17-1976 as well as the Prospective Commanding Officers Course at the Headquarters of Commander Submarine Force, US Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) received two Navy Commendation Medals for meritorious service, Good Conduct Awards, Vietnam era ribbons, and a Gold Star as well the insignia of the Submarine Warfare Specialist, and he remained humble throughout his life; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret), 68 years, was born on January 31, 1944, Chicago, Cook County, and after struggling with kidney cancer and several strokes he was the first sibling to die on Saturday, March 17, 2012 in Pinehurst, North Carolina; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) one of seven siblings, had younger brothers Russell Avila, born in Chicago, Illinois; and Robert Avila, born in Ketchum, Idaho from his parents Francisco Parocua Avila and Patricia Marie Avila in addition to older siblings Mary Theresa (Nee: Avila) Pabon, and three more older brothers M. Frank Avila, Richard Avila, and Daniel Avila, all born in Chicago, IL from Francisco Parocua Avila and Maria Teresa Avila; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) graduated from Sahs Grammar School, unincorporated Central Stickney, Illinois, June 1957 after attending Irving and Hearst Grammar Schools in Chicago; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) graduated from Reavis High School, Oak Lawn, Illinois, June 1961 where he won The Illinois Junior Academy of Science Second Place Award for his project "Biology-Cholesterol: It's Chemistry - And it's role in Heart Disease"; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) learned perseverance while struggling with his Dad and five other brothers through mud up to their knees while digging out the foundation for a brick home that his Dad built; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) learned about nature when his Dad taught him to plant, weed, and harvest organic vegetables and fruits on three lots; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) walked with his two of his younger brothers, Russell and Robert, to and from St. Charles Catholic Church every Sunday as a youth; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) travelled around the world and the USA with the US Navy and resided in Lawrence, Kansas; Dam Neck, Virginia; Idaho Falls, Idaho; Mare Island, San Francisco, and San Diego, California; New London, Groom, and Groton, Connecticut; Bremerton, Washington; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Roja, Spain and other countries; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) developed a close relationship with Diane Allard after his divorce, and they settled in Las Vegas until his daughter Elena moved him closer to where she lived in North Carolina; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) was preceded in death by his 6 year old son Robert Russell Avila, father Francisco Parocua Avila, and his mother Patricia Marie Avila; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret) leaves behind to mourn him his long-time, beloved friend, Diane Allard, Las Vegas, Nevada; his children James "Jimmy" Avila; fraternal twins Elena (Dr. David) (Nee: Avila) Strom, Pinehurst, North Carolina and Richard Frank Avila, Jr., Abington, Massachusetts; and his beloved grandchildren: Colby Richard Avila -10 years; Natalie Elena Strom - 9 years; Parker Stanton Strom - 6 years; Keifer James Strom - 4 years; siblings Russell (Liane) Avila, Queen Creek, Arizona; Robert (Darlene Meinke) Avila, Downers Grove, Illinois; Mary Theresa (Nee: Avila) Pabon, St. Pete's Beach, Florida; M. Frank (Sherry) Avila, Chicago, Illinois; Richard Avila, St. Pete's Beach, Florida; and Daniel Avila, Sr., Chicago, Illinois; and numerous nieces and nephews; and, cousins scattered around the USA, Canada, and Mexico; and,
WHEREAS, family, friends, neighbors, and fellow Sailors will remember his dedication, intelligence, and sensitivity; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Frank, USN (ret), a talented Naval officer, served honorably during the Vietnam Conflict and sacrificed time away from his home and family for the protection of our great nation during the Cold War; and,
WHEREAS, Commander Richard F. Avila, USN (ret), requested "Burial at Sea" via submarine torpedo in the Pacific Ocean at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; and, his daughter Elena and his granddaughter Natalie will scatter the rest of his ashes in the mountains, in the oceans and in paper lanterns to be sent up into the sky in Costa Rica; and,
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and staff extend our sympathy and condolences to the family of RICHARD FRANK AVILA; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and that a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to Commissioner Frank Avila and the family Commander Richard Frank Avila, United States Navy, Retired
Dated: May 15, 2012
Approved: TERRENCE J. O'BRIEN, President; BARBARA J. MCGOWAN, Vice President; CYNTHIA M. SANTOS, Chairman, Committee on Finance; MICHAEL A. ALVAREZ; FRANK AVILA; PATRICIA HORTON; KATHLEEN THERESE MEANY; DEBRA SHORE; MARIYANA SPYROPOULOS; Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago