~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, DL Capt. Richard “Dick”
Shutack
May 29, 1939 ~ August 15, 2023
From friends and colleagues comes this news
with the passing of Delta Golden Wings member retired Delta Air Lines pilot Captain
Richard Andrew Shutack, age 84. Dick
joined Delta Air Lines 11-04-1968 and was based Chicago, then Orlando prior to
his retirement. Survived by his wife
Lynne, and by his children and their families, condolences may be sent to the
family at
3260 Orion Dr.,
Colorado Springs, CO 80906-0906.
Please see tribute below for services and
arrangements.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
Tribute :
Captain Richard (Dick) A. Shutack, Retired,
flew west on Tuesday, August 15, 2023.
Dick was a 1963 graduate of the United
States Air Force Academy and completed 28 years of military service. Upon
graduation he flew B-52s before leaving active duty to serve in the Illinois
Air National Guard in 1968. He flew the KC-97 and KC-135 out of O’Hare
International Airport.
Dick was hired by Delta Air Lines in
November 1968 and retired in June 1999 with over 27,000 flight hours. He had
the distinct honor of serving the Delta pilots as the Chicago Chief Pilot
before the base closed in 1996.
Dick leaves his beloved wife of sixty years
Lynne, three children, Scott (Sue), Kevin (Courteney) and daughter Nicole
(Mark). Dick and Lynne have seven beautiful grandchildren.
Captain Shutack’s funeral will be held on
September 15th, 2023 at 10am, at the Community Chapel, 5134 Cathedral Drive,
United States Air Force Academy.
If attending, please wear your Delta Air Lines
Pilot full winter uniform (jacket and hat)
A military ID or current drivers license is
required to enter the Air Force Academy.
There is quite a contingent of former ORD
based pilots who would be interested to know this.
................., I would like to offer my condolences to Dick’s family. I was once stationed with Dick in ORD, where he served as Chief Base Pilot for a time. I later transferred to BOS, and completed my remaining flying time until my retirement in 1996. While at ORD, it was a privilege to work with Dick. He was a true professional, in every meaning of that word. With his calm and “get the job done” style the ORD base was a pleasure to be stationed at and the flying schedule was done with minimum delays and/or problems. Dick and I were best of friends, which was easy since we both had been in SAC in the Air Force! Dick had a “been there … done that” set of credentials that could solve any and all problems, if need be. I remember when Dick agreed to be ORD Chief Base Pilot, a few of us “old timers” had a small celebration gathering for him and presented him with a card saying “Here’s to Captain Richard Shutack .. a professional pilot who is OUTSTANDING IN HIS FIELD…IN FACT, WHEN DELTA FOUND HIM FOR THE OHARE MANAGEMENT JOB …THAT’S WHERE THEY FOUND HIM … OUT STANDING IN HIS FIELD!” Dick will be missed. Robert K. Campbell - Retired Delta Captain - former ORD and BOS based, now at 687 Exeter Rd. Hampton, NH 03842
Dick was a true professional and also a joy to fly with and just be around! Sending all our prayers and condolences to family and friends! Donald Palmer
ReplyDeleteDick was an exemplary professional pilot and friend. A true credit to The U.S. Airforce and Delta Air Lines. Captain Wm. F Kerschner, {retired}.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for your loss; I knew Dick from childhood (Manville Nj) although we lost touch after High School. We met again at DAL in Atl, a fine fellow from a great family: he will be missed.
ReplyDeleteLynne…so sorry for your loss. Dick was an exceptional human being and professional aviator. The model aircraft gift to me of my B52G tail number 584 still sits proudly on my desk.
ReplyDeleteWarmly,
Harry Alger DAL retired
Sad day, super guy in the air and on the ground, gone too soon. M.P Boden DAL (Ret)
ReplyDeleteOne of my all time favorites to fly with at ORD. Dick was a pilot's pilot and a great man. We always had a good time flying the line together and built a ton of lasting memories. Ord was blessed with many quality Chief Pilots whom I could name, but Dick stood out among them. Lynne soo sorry for loss but Christ's Angel flyers just got a new Wing Commander. God Bless you all with His Peace and Comfort.
ReplyDeleteDick was an outstanding individual and pilot1 He will be missed. I have many fond memories of flying with Dick on the CV 880.
ReplyDeleteDick Shutack was liked and admired by EVERYONE. His ever present friendliness with his professionalism, even as Chicago’s Chief Pilot was always appreciated. With his friendship, came his humor. I have a funny story when I was a brand new 727 flight engineer on probation. One day on a flight with Dick as the captain and I believe “Woody” Woodson as the copilot we were flying over Jacksonville for arrival in to Atlanta. We were at cruise altitude and just chatting when all of a sudden a horn goes off intermittently. We looked around, yup the landing gear is up, I looked at the cabin altitude and it had climbed insipidly above 10,000 feet and I alerted Dick. Dick immediately told Woody to ask Jacksonville center for an immediate descent to 10,000 feet and NOT to declare an emergency. (I found out later Dick didn’t like paperwork) we descended as fast as we could, and I was able to trick the archaic (Northeast Airlines) pneumatic pressurization system, and I was able to keep the cabin altitude below the altitude where the passenger oxygen masks would be deployed. Dick was really happy about that. Well, on downwind to landing and well clear of some thunderstorms in the Atlanta area, we took a lightning strike just under Woody’s feet. He jumped up and said, I think I’m white now! Woody, I believe was mixed race. We all chuckled at his joke, checked all our instruments and gauges and everything look normal. Dick told me to add that to the maintenance book too. The saga continues! As we were taxiing into the gate at the old Atlanta terminal, Dick looked into the jetway and saw Delta‘s nemesis, FAA inspector Lewis with two other guys. Dick said, “oh crap it’s Lewis and two other suits.” After shut down, Dick and Woody, got up immediately, got the jackets and hats on, got their luggage and flight kits and got off with the first few passengers. Unbeknownst to me, Dick “rushed off the airplane” and told Lewis that we had a close connection that he needed to go to the next airplane to preflight and “talk to my flight engineer.” After I think about 10 minutes of answering questions from all three inspectors about what happened, what we did, and satisfied that we did the correct procedures, and had properly written it up in our maintenance book, they let me go. I walked over to our next airplane only two gates over, walked into the cockpit, and Dick and Woody were howling, that they left me to be grilled by the FAA suits. They were howling because we still had an hour and a half before our next departure! With Dick’s wonderful sense of humor, he would every once in a while, bring up that day, and we could both laugh about it. What a truly great human being. I am very sorry I could not possibly attend the memorial service. I had hoped to stand up and repeat the above story because anyone that knew Dick Shutack would once again, share in his humor and joy in his life. Rest In Peace Captain Dick Shutack.
ReplyDeleteThe above was my story and joy in knowing Dick.
Delete