John Thomas Poirier

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by West Point 1955 on March 2, 2016:

John Thomas "Jack" Poirier John (Jack) Thomas Poirier rested on 21 April 2006 with the Grand Architect of the Universe with many friends and family at his side. He was born Easter Sunday, 16 April 1933. His life was filled with academics, valor, adventure, and love. He was born in Rochester, New York, the son of Dorothy Sullivan and George Nelson Poirier. He graduated from Thomas Aquinas H.S. and attended Holy Cross College at 17 years old. He graduated as an Engineer from the US. Military Academy at West Point, class of 1955, and obtained his Masters in Political Science from Harvard University. He spoke Spanish and German and loved poetry and prose. Jack was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star for Valor, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal, 15th Oak Leaf Cluster, while serving in Republic of Vietnam as pilot and Forward Air Controller. Some assignments included commander of Sheppard A.F.B., The Air War College, Military Attache to Venezuela, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Professor at the Air Force Academy. He was also the first Judo coach at the USAFA. Jack retired from the Air Force as a full Colonel. Jack lived life, loved travel, fine food, Disneyland, and lived by a code of honor. Every year Jack loved throwing the annual 4th of July, Halloween and St. Patrick's parties that would last till the wee hours of the morning. As the consummate host he entertained with flair and often quoted from Rudyard Kipling. Jack was an avid reader, loving fiction, fantasy and history; by some accounts he read over 10,000 books. Jack is survived by his wife Alma (De Miranda) Poirier, sister Yvonne Mangan, daughters Christine Palmiere and Renee Hickman, his son Colonel David Francavilla, grandchildren Jacqueline and Vanessa Poirier, Elizabeth Hickman, Matthew and David Palmiere, Carolynn, Nichelle, and Alexandra Francavilla and great grandchild Alyssa Salazar. "And when our work is done, our course on earth is run, may it be said, 'Well Done; Be Thou At Peace.' E'er May that Line of Gray, Increase from Day to Day - Live, serve, and die, we pray, West Point, for thee." Services will be at the USAFA Protestant Cadet Chapel at 1000 hours on Friday 28 April. Published in The Gazette on Apr. 25, 2006

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