PETTEE ROBERT H

WO1 Robert H. Pettee was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 07/07/2022 at the age of 71.9 from malignant melanoma
Woodbury, NY
Flight Class 70-19
Date of Birth 08/26/1950
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 101 AVN 101 ABN in 70-71
This information was provided by Larry Ford

More detail on this person: Email to Mike Law - Capt. Bob was a loach guy. I first met him in '85 when I had a press info job for the Los Angeles City Fire Dept. Bob at the time was flying for NBC/channel 4 in L.A. I always saw that he had a 10 minute head start to all breaking news storys. I called him on his private line in the helo. The.rest of the news chopper guys in L.A. at the time were jerks. Some years later when he was flying tours in Hilo, Hawaii for Blue Hawaii, we met there and had lunch. I was on a tour ship pulled in for the day. And maybe some 10 years ago I and my wife had breakfast with Bob and his wife in Wilmington, N.C. Capt Bob, as he was know on the NBC news in L.A. for many years sported a major handle bar moustache. It. was unforgetable....RIP Capt. Bob ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Julie Pettee To: "lford304@yahoo.com" Sent: Monday, August 22, 2022 at 04:27:21 PM EDTSubject: Robert H. Pettee, Jr. Robert would want you to know Please share with friends. Robert Holmes Pettee, Jr. Robert Holmes Pettee, Jr. died July 7, 2022 after a valiant fightagainst malignant melanoma. Robert was born on August 26, 1950 in Greensboro, NC, the son ofRobert H. Pettee, Sr. and Laura Maie Shaver Pettee who predeceased him. Hisbrother William Trantham Shaver Pettee also predeceased him. Robert's family moved to Wilmington, NC and lived on BordenAvenue where in 1951 he met the love of his life and future wife. He attendedForest Hills Elementary School. His family moved with his father's work toPuerto Rico and eventually settled in Walnut Cove, NC. Robert (now known as Bob) made life-long friends at Christ School and graduated in 1968.He subsequently attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Inspired by events in Southeast Asia, he left college to enlistin the US Army. His ancestors were Patriots and Soldiers. He had listened as hisgrandfather and his father told about their war-time infantry experiences andhe felt it was his patriotic duty to fight for his country. He knew he didnot want to march through his war, so he opted for flight training. Bob found his calling as a helicopter pilot and it was his vocation for 52 years. He flew as a fish spotter off tuna boats in South America. He flew for the news for Channel 39 KCST in San Diego and he was"Captain Bob" for Channel 4 KNBC News in Los Angeles, He was a lifelong"Newsie" and contributed to innovations to news coverage in California. He washonored by The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for Outstanding HardNews Reporting and received an Emmy in 1997. He flew helicopter tours in Hawaii. Bob was Chief Pilot for TV News12 in New York. His recent flying was with emergency medical transport companies;the most recent with Air Evac Lifetime 97 in Portsmouth, Ohio. Robert made a significant contribution to Historic Wilmington,NC by restoring the DuBois~Boatwright House (built ca. 1760). With over 30,000 hours in the sky Robert retired in December of 2021. His passing is mourned by a host of aviators, mechanics, medicalprofessionals and media professionals who worked with Bob. They remember him with fondness and admiration as a consummate professional. His was a life well-lived. Surviving family members left to cherish wonderful memories arehis son, Robert Holmes Pettee, III "Trey", his daughter Seneca Asia ChasePettee and his wife, Julia Boatwright Pettee "Julie". His family loves Robert dearly and misses him intensely. We want to thank Robert's medical care professionals: Dr.Tsuyoshi Inoshita and staff Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Dr. Daniel Dawson, Nurse Elizabeth and staff Dr. Kenneth W. Kotz and staff Dr. Michael Nichols, Nurse Mary Kathryn and staff Novant Hospital (NHRMC) 4th floor nursing staff Novant Diagnostic Center (Wrightsville Avenue) Dr. Daniel Barzana, Nurse Nina and staff Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, especially Shauna, Rebecca, Sara, Mary, Karen,Brenda, Trevor and Bree Friends and family are welcome to gather to remember Robert and celebrate hislife at the residence in Wilmington, NC on Friday evening October 7thand at the funeral at St. James Parish on Saturday, October 8 at 10:00 withinterment to follow at Oakdale Cemetery. Suggested donationsin Robert's memory may be made to causes he cared sincerely about: Tunnels toTowers, Wounded Warriors, St. Jude Hospital, Christ School and HistoricWilmington Foundation. R.I.P. Captain Bob

Burial information: Oakdale Cemetery

This information was last updated 08/23/2022

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024