Robert C. Ricketson, Captain, USAF
June 29, 1944 – August 03, 2000

Robert Charles Ricketson, of 430 Enfield Center Road passed away unexpectedly at the Wilson Hospital in Johnson City on Thursday, August 3, 2000, at the age of 56.

Born on June 29, 1944, in Alexandria, Virginia, Robert was the son of the late Howard Ricketson who died in 1969 and Lusetta (Zintz) Ricketson of Medford, New Jersey.

Following his graduation from the Lenape Hight School in 1962 Robert entered Cornell University. He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1966, a M.S. in Engineering in 1967 and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Design from Cornell in 1983. Currently Robert was employed by Digicomp Research Corp. in Ithaca.

Robert’s real passion was teaching. Many of his students that he taught at Cornell University are accomplished professionals today, including TV’s “Bill Nye The Science Guy”.

From 1967 to 1972 Robert served in the US Air Force. He piloted HH-43 Rescue Helicopters and C-141 Transports rescuing downed pilots and transporting wounded servicemen during the Vietnam War. Saving lives was his quest during these difficult years and he will be remembered by his family and friends as a true patriot.

Tinkering with machinery and computers was a favored pastime for Robert but his greatest love was fishing. He devoted his entire fishing career to lake trout.

In addition to his mother, Robert is survived by his wife of 34 years, Ellen (Waring) Ricketson of Ithaca; 2 sons, Carl Alexander Ricketson of Trumansburg and Robert Howard Ricketson of Ft. Steward, Ga.; 2 granddaughters, Nicole Minster and Alanna Ricketson; 2 sisters, Bonnie Jean Gremminger of Browns Mill, NJ and a nephew Robert Gerald Shemeley.

Services will be held at the Ness-Sibley Funeral Home, 23 South Street, Trumansburg on Monday, August 7, 2000 at 1:00 p.m. with the Reverend Bob Rochelle officiating. The family will be present to receive their friends, at the funeral home, on Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Card of condolence may be sent to Mrs. Ellen E. Ricketson, 430 Enfield Center Road East, Ithaca, NY 14850.

Published in The Itaca Journal, 05 Aug 2000, Sat. – Page 4.

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Captain Ricketson served a tour in the Vietnam War as a HH-43F pilot (Call sign “Pedro”) with Det.’s 2, 5 & 8, 38th ARRS in the 1971-1972-time frame.