PAA/DL Capt. Gerald A. Dion

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, PAA/DL Capt. Gerald A. Dion

May 20, 1937 ~ November 17, 2023

 

As noted in the Jan-Feb 2024 issue of the Air Line Pilot magazine on the In Memoriam page, the passing of retired Pan Am/Delta pilot Captain Gerald “Jerry” Allen Dion, age 86.  Jerry joined Pan American 08-06-1964 and retired with Delta Air Lines.  He is survived by his wife Dana May.

Obituary information can be found online at

 https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/pressdemocrat/name/gerald-dion-obituary?id=54025478

PCN memorial site

 

Gerald Dion Obituary

Gerald "Jerry" Dion

May 20, 1937 - November 17, 2023

 

Jerry Dion was born as a fourth-generation San Franciscan and grew up in the Sunnyside district, the son of a milkman and a department store worker at The Emporium on Market St.

 

As a youth, with his brother "Buzz", he often vacationed on the Russian River, where he developed his love of Sonoma County. As a teenager, he made a deal with his Catholic mother that he could transfer from Archbishop Riordan to the public Lincoln High School, if he would give up playing football. It was worth it "for the girls".

 

Upon graduation, he enrolled at UC Berkley to study accounting, but in a fortuitous decision, he left the thrilling world of P&Ls to join the United States Navy and became a pilot, where he flew off of the aircraft carrier Hancock, and had some of the last non-combat missions over Vietnam. His official call sign was "Straight Arrow", but he was affectionately known to his Navy buddies as "Oink". When he met gorgeous Navy nurse Joy Sandling in a bar, he claimed to be a plumber named Clyde, not wanting to let on at first that he was, in fact, an officer in the same branch of service. He would marry her within the year.

 

In what would prove to be the defining decision of his life, he joined Pan Am Airways, and thus began his ascension into the ranks of Sky Gods, from which he never descended. "The Baby Captain" as he was known for his boyish looks, rose quickly and flew the largest passenger aircraft in the sky, the 747.

 

Living in the suburbs of Moraga with his wife and two sons, Jerry Jr. and Danny, proved too mundane for this self-made man, and the family moved to Kenwood, CA to plant a vineyard and make wine together. The Valley of the Moon was the perfect place to pay homage to Bacchus- which he did most days, beginning early on the tractor, and again each evening around 5:30 before dinner.

 

He retired to Oakmont, but his was not a sedentary life. He enrolled at Dominican College, studying history and becoming the oldest graduate in the class of 2008. He was a generous host, a lifelong 49ers fan, kind to his Labradors, and loved nothing more than to be surrounded by friends and family on holidays.

 

He passed away, peacefully in his sleep in November, with his wife Dana May by his side.

A celebration of his life and high-flying spirit will be held on January 13th, 2024, in Oakmont.

For details, contact Dana May Dion at danamay@mycci.net