Gerald "Mitt" Ernest Mittendorff

Jerry, as he was known to his family, was born on September 7, 1944 in Alexandria, VA to Ernest Alfred and Jean Dawson Mittendorff. The Mittendorffs lived on a family farm on Telegraph Road, and farm life was a defining factor in young Jerry’s life. He grew up with loving, hard working parents and simple pleasures that he would continue to cherish his whole life. His childhood was magical, surrounded by extended family who gathered together often to support each other and celebrate with good food and lots of laughter.

Jerry was the first in his family to attend college on a Navy ROTC scholarship at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, where he studied math, but spent a lot of his time in the pool halls. After college, he completed flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1967, earning the call sign “Mitt”, which would become his moniker. His 28-year Naval career featured many highlights, including flying A-4F, A-7A, F-4N and F-14A aircraft, with over 600 carrier landings and 4300 flight hours. Mitt made two deployments to Vietnam from 1967-1971, aboard the USS CORAL SEA and the USS ORISKANY. He was a member of VF-84, the “Jolly Rogers”, where he flew the F-4 and F-14 in Mediterranean Sea deployments, serving aboard the USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT and USS NIMITZ. He commanded VT-24, a training squadron in Beeville, TX, followed by a tour as head of Navy pilot training at the Pentagon. He said that he had the authority to kick someone out of the Navy in VT-24 but at the Pentagon, was not senior enough to answer a letter written by a 10-year-old. His last years in the Navy were spent supporting operations on the island of Kaho’olawe, HI. After retirement, Mitt transitioned to a second career as a civilian contractor for the Office of Naval Research, “reinventing” himself by building IT and website design skills.

Mitt would like us to remember the brave men he flew with who did not come home from combat. For many years he honored them by riding his Harley in the Rolling Thunder rally and sharing their stories with us.

Mitt married his first wife, Margaret “Marti” Scahill, in 1971 and they built a beautiful family that was Mitt’s world. They traveled the country as a military family–from Virginia to California, Rhode Island to Texas, Hawaii and home to Virginia. Mitt saw Marti through her own devastating cancer battle, and she predeceased him in 1993.

Lucky in love, Mitt married his wife Nancy in 2003. They spent the following 21 years together riding their Harleys, traveling, playing golf and pool and spending time with family. They were rarely apart. They built a new home together in Virginia Beach, a family oasis where they loved nothing more than to host family, especially grandkids. Mitt never passed up a chance to tow the grandkids on a raft behind his boat, and never, EVER refused a request to GO FASTER.

Mitt’s sense of humor is legendary, and he enjoyed the company of others who could make him laugh. An exceptional, caring and generous man whose integrity was above reproach, he loved good food, good drink and a good time, but mostly his family, who he loved without expectation or judgement. He reveled in life’s simple pleasures and lived a life of gratitude, his cup was always full. The world will not be the same without him.

Mitt is survived by his devoted wife and best friend Nancy Harned; his children Michael Mittendorff (Jennifer) and Christina Berube (Judd); his cherished grandchildren Margaret, James, Isaac and Stella; his siblings Patricia Lesko and Marty Mittendorff (Jean); as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws and countless friends. He is predeceased by a beloved younger brother, Charles (1954).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the V Foundation for Cancer Research or The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University.

Fair winds and following seas, Captain.