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<p><em>John Valleau Rathbone Redington</em> —soldier, aviator, engineer, and cherished classmate—dedicated his life to the ideals of Duty, Honor, Country. He was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 21, 1953 to James H. and Juliette C. Redington, who instilled in John a love of family, adventure, and fun, along with a commitment to hard work and service. John was a consummate gentleman, admired by all who knew him for his intellect, professionalism, and especially goofy sense of humor.</p>
<p>John’s roots at West Point ran deep. His grandfather, Harlan Leslie Mumma, Class of 1916, served as a battalion tactical officer and provost officer at West Point in the early 1930s. He was quartermaster for the Panama Canal Department throughout World War II and retired as a brigadier general in 1948. Another family member, Samuel B. Rathbone, Class of 1808 (Cullum Number 34), served in the regiment of artillerists and was mortally wounded at the Battle of Queenstown Heights, Canada in 1812. </p>
<p>John’s mother often regaled the family with hilarious stories of growing up as a child on USMA grounds. John adored his grandfather and knew that the only school he would consider would be West Point. His parents had to coerce him to apply to any other college, but there was never a question in John’s mind that he wanted to be a part of the Long Gray Line.</p>
<p>John graduated from USMA on June 4, 1975 with a commission as a second lieutenant in the Armor branch. He married his one and only, Jill McNellis, on June 8, 1975 and, after a cross-country honeymoon, headed to Fort Benning, GA to attend Airborne and Ranger schools. John’s first assignment was as a platoon leader with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss, TX. In 1978 he was the distinguished graduate from flight school at Fort Rucker, AL. His favorite assignment was as an aeroscout platoon commander at Fort Wainwright, AK, where he mastered bush pilot skills, developed a passion for fly fishing, and, most importantly, became a father in 1980 to his beloved daughter, Leslie. From 1981 to 1984 he was assigned to the U.S. Army Aviation Board at Fort Rucker, AL as test director for the light air cavalry troop experiments and commander of headquarters company. In 1983, John joined the Army’s newly formed Aviation branch.</p>
<p>John earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Arizona in 1985. He returned to USMA from 1986 to 1989 as an assistant professor in the Mechanics Department. </p>
<p>In 1990, John graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, launching a career as a developmental test officer and experimental test pilot. He was a dual-rated master aviator with over 2,500 flying hours and was rated in 12 different Army aircraft. In 1993, he became director of flight systems test at the U.S. Army Aviation Technical Test Center (ATTC) and later served with the British Army Air Corps as the U.S. Army Aviation Research and Development and Standardization coordinator in London, UK. He retired from active duty in 1996 as a lieutenant colonel.</p>
<p>In 1997 he began his federal civil service as a supervisory flight test engineer with ATTC. He later moved to the Program Executive Office (PEO)-Ground Combat Systems in Warren, MI as the director of test for project manager, modular brigade enhancements. In 2008 John transferred to the U.S. Navy and joined the Joint PEO-Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) team in San Diego, serving as the product director for the airborne JTRS radio. He assumed his final civilian duties as the director of the platform Integration Liaison Office in Huntsville, AL before retiring in 2014.</p>
<p>In 2013 John and Jill purchased a home on Big Lake in Grand Lake Stream, ME. Following retirement, they both became avid birders and learned to play bridge. John delighted in teaching Jill how to fish, and the two of them spent most days in fierce competition for the honors of catching the first, biggest, and most smallmouth bass. John’s goal was to master pickleball, and Jill happily became his social secretary, keeping track of his busy schedule and their many social commitments. Evenings were spent on the shoreline with cherished friends, great food, and gin and tonics, watching the moon rise and listening to the loons. It was a “Golden Pond” life, and John loved Big Lake as his little piece of heaven.</p>
<p>In 2021, John was diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Never one to give up on anything and never slowing down, he underwent 85 chemotherapy treatments before cancer got the better of him. He never once complained, and just weeks before his passing he could be found on the pickleball court. John lived joyously and gratefully every day of his life.</p>
<p>John died peacefully on July 26, 2024 in their home on Big Lake surrounded by the two people he loved most in the world. He is survived by his adoring wife of 49 years, Jill McNellis Redington; his daughter, Leslie Redington Roberts, and her husband, Dr. John Roberts; his two precious granddaughters, Juliette Olivia (Livy) and Beatrice Anne (Bea); his 14th dog, Schuyler; his sister, Julie Aylor; and his brother, James Redington. He also leaves behind many loving friends, including his treasured classmates from USMA Class of 1975 (“Courage and Drive”).</p>
<p>“May it be said, ‘Well Done; Be Thou at Peace.’”</p>
<p><em>— Family and Classmates</em></p>
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