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John Owen Sommercamp, Sr
died of a heart attack on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 in Sacramento, CA. Services for John
were held at
11:00 am on Saturday, June 28th at the Village Community Church (6225 Paseo Delicias) in Rancho Santa Fe, CA.
Reception at Marty's home followed the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations
may be sent to:
Solana Beach Little League, John Sommercamp Memorial Fund, at PO Box 181 in
Solana Beach, California 92075; or Village Presbyterian Church, Military Outreach Ministry,
John Sommercamp Memorial Fund at PO Box 704 in Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
[Provides support for the wives and families of service men and women overseas.]
Condolences may be sent to Marty Sommercamp at 1016 Santa Florencia, Solana Beach, CA 92075-8314,
(858) 481-8314.
Saturday, 28 June, eleven 1961 classmates gathered in Rancho Santa Fe, CA to say
good-bye to John. It was a beautiful service of worship in
thanksgiving for his life. Members of the family gave moving tributes to him
and we all can be proud of his legacy that remains with his wife, children, and
grandchildren. After the church service we attended a reception at the
Sommercamp home in Solana Beach.
Standing: Goldtrap, Brady,
Mucho, Randolph, Adams, Nevins, Zaldo.
Seated: Jones, Barry, Campbell, Brooks. Remembrances:
John, we all reported to the
“man in the red sash” that second day of July 1957. Eight of us were assigned to
the same squad in 2nd New Cadet Company. Among them were John
Sommercamp, Ed Jones, Gene La Borne, Alan Lubke, Sam Marsh, Gabe Gabriel and two
others. We learned how to do Squads Right, Right by Squads. We learned to help
each other. We each had something to contribute. John, you impressed us all with
his physical abilities, your musical interests and dogged determination. You
were always upbeat. You were always ready to lend a hand. As all of us did, you
lost some weight that summer, but you were already so solid that you did not
have much to lose. Fortunately you found the Corps Squad tables when the
academic year started and put it back on as you lettered in C Squad Football.
Also with Reorganization Week, we parted ways as you headed to K2 and I went to
D1. Over the next four years we would get thrown together on a class trip, at
Camp Buckner or a football trip where I tagged along as a Cheerleader. John, my
name may be Gabriel, but you were the man who blew the horn. Now the bugle will
blow taps once more, but not from your lips. Be thou at peace as we grip hands
through the shadows.
Gabe
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