★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★
LTjg Mark Gontkovic '76, USN was lost on December 6, 1979 when the A-6E Intruder he was piloting crashed in the Mediterranean during practice bombing run at the Avgo Ni Si training range in Crete. He was a member of Attack Squadron (VA) 35, operating from USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Lt.(jg) Anthony J. Bilotti USN '77, the naval fight officer, was also lost in the crash.
From the Lucky Bag:
Whether falling out of the 'vator after a good Friday night or unleashing shaving cream bomb and peanut butter destruction on deserving members of "Skate 28" Mark always kept things lively up on 6-4. A physical education major with a party minor, and several study halls in Oceanography, Gonk always made sure that his "spirit" activities didn't interfere with his two most successful and favorite pastimes — playing baseball and marching E.D. Besides MacDonalds and the Anthony House his favorite place is his hometown, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the All-American city. There he developed Steeler-mania, a taste for Iron City Beer, and a tapered cranium. Canoe U. is certain to lose with Gonk's departure, but his arrival in Pensacola will assure that Naval Aviation will never be quite the same. AER-Aer, FLY NAVY!
Mark was survived by his wife, Nancy, and his parents.
To Honor! ⚓
https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/MARK_S._GONTKOVIC,_LTJG,_USN