Posted on 05/17/2018
Capt. Roger Carlquist, USN (Ret'd) 92, died peacefully May 11, 2018, in Annapolis, MD at home with family. Born January 28, 1926 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Carl and Ethel Rich Carlquist, he achieved his dream of being a Naval Aviator, graduating USNA Class of 48. While in Pensacola for flight training, he met and married Amante Georgia Semmes, with whom he recently celebrated 68 years of marriage. As a test pilot and fighter pilot, Roger logged over 4,000 flight hours, flew 55 different aircraft, completed 568 carrier landings, 100 of them at night, was first to fire a Zuni rocket from an aircraft. Among his medals, he was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses - in combat for completing his mission to destroy bridges in Korea despite severe damage to his craft from enemy fire; in peacetime for completing a power off landing of an F3H-2 with a seized engine. Assigned as LSO for the first F4-H CAG he managed 14,000 captures without incident. He was inducted into membership of the Golden Eagles, an elite group of naval aviation pioneers. Roger and Amante entertained frequently and lived life with gusto. In retirement Roger was a leader in USNA Foundation, Golden Eagles, and Rotary, and with Amante, traveled the world. He enjoyed league tennis, gardening, USNA football even in the rain, and most of all family. He was our beloved patriarch. Roger is survived by his loving wife Amante, his sister Edith Reed, age 100, children Susan Bucher (Roy), Katherine Campbell, Mary Barker (Bill), Richard Carlquist (Tasna), Monica Murray (Ric), and Robert Carlquist; grandchildren Kate Williams (Isaac), Carolyn Kiser (Jason), Holly Hamlin (Gray), Kristen Morrisett (Sam), Emily Stallard (Graydon), Stephanie Barker, Sarica Carlquist, Rick Murray (Rachel), Jacqueline Murray and Erica Murray; great grandchildren Taegan, Mila, Campbell, Harry, Austin, Raphaela, Priya, Dylann, Baylor, and Tripp, all of whom he brought to tears with his sentimental Thanksgiving blessing. A memorial service will be held at the USNA Chapel on Wednesday, May 30, at 10:30. Burial with full military honors will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Tailhook Educational Foundation www.tailhook.net. "Lord guard and guide the men who fly"
Published in The Virginian Pilot on May 18, 2018