He was a Navy Seaman, 1st class aboard the U.S.S. Quincy and received the 4 stars and the Presidential ribbon. He was diagnosed with ALS in 1988. He was man who could crack a walnut with his biceps to entertain his grandchildren. At the time of his diagnosis, it seemed there was very little information about the disease, except through the ALS Association. Many doctors were still unaware as to how to handle the disease. There was also no Internet for research and we spent a lot of time at the library for our research. ALS took him within 2 years. He died April 12, 1990.