DL Capt. Stephen Todd Raphael

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

DL Capt. Stephen Todd Raphael

February 1, 1949 ~ January 28, 2022 

 

 

Very Sad News !

Retired Delta Captain Steve Raphael

From:   Guy B. Snodgrass , Classmates

It is my sad duty once again that I must pass along to you the passing of a dear friend and classmate, Stephen Raphael, who passed away on Friday 28 January in Houston, Texas due to complications from COVID-19. Graduating from the 14th Company he was a member of the Varsity Sailing Team and Captain of the Shields Team. He developed a love for flying starting at the Academy with obtaining his private pilot's license and selected Navy Air at service selection. Prior to flight school, Steve served as Navigator on the U.S.S. Shelton (DD-790) on Yankee Station. While in Pensacola, he took up racing dirt bikes and enjoyed surfing. Steve excelled as a Naval Aviator and during his first P-3 tour was selected early as a Patrol Plane Commander and Instructor Pilot. 

Following a tour in the P-3 fleet replacement squadron he resigned his commission and in October 1977 was hired by Delta Air Lines. He became a senior Captain, flying almost every Boeing aircraft Delta had at the time up to the B-767 400ER on international routes, as well as the L-1011. Steve lived mostly in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area of Texas during that time and took up windsurfing on the lakes in Texas, and out in Hawaii, whenever he could get away.

Steve retired from Delta in 2004 and flew Gulfstreams for a charter company, then international luxury 757's for EOS Airlines, across the Atlantic. Steve was later hired by Southwest Air Lines. Until his passing, Steve worked for Southwest as a simulator instructor pilot in the training department.

Steve and his wife Melinda lived on a lake where he took up waterskiing, which became his lifelong recreational passion. In the mid-eighties Steve became involved with competition slalom waterskiing. With a lot of hard work and coaching, Steve won 10 national championships as well as 3 world slalom championships while skiing for team USA.

Steve and his wife Melinda attended our 50th Reunion in Annapolis in October where many of us were able to congratulate him for his many awards as a renowned waterskiing champion.

He is survived by his wife Melinda, an international flight attendant at Delta along with his son Scott from a previous marriage and a granddaughter Sarah Trinity.

Funeral services are pending, and I will send out further information as soon as they are announced.

May he rest in peace.

Perry Martini