Linda M. Schirano

To William and John Schirano and Family,

Please accept our belated condolences on the death of your mother, Linda Kiester Schirano. We just came across her obituary on the internet.

Linda, along with your late father, Lou, and myself, were on Okinawa together from 1965 to 1967. Along with fellow Okinawa alumni Jack McCarthy, Todd Riley, Craig Thompson and his wife Libby we formed a strong bond of friendship that lasted well past our return from military service. On Okinawa we were the privileged officer corps from the conquering army that never left and had the run of the island, and partied hard. Many an hour was spent in the officer’s lounge, the fabled “Coffee Shop”. Jack and Todd rented an off-base house that had a purple tiled gable roof. (Lou was later to join them in living there.) It was quickly dubbed the “Purple Pagoda” and became party central. Ah, youth!

After leaving the service, from the late 1960’s to the mid 1980’s we met often at Linda’s Washington, and later, New York apartments, Craig’s on-base housing in Virginia, Jack’s LI Sound bungalow in Connecticut, your parent’s house in Westchester, or our apartment and later house in NYC. I got married first, to Sheila, and your parents attended our wedding. We then attended theirs. With them, we attended Todd’s. Your parents and we had our first child just months apart. Then life happened and we drifted apart. About 2010 we reconnected. Your parents were living in Indiana and us in South Carolina. We talked on the phone, kept each other abreast of family news and promised to visit each other. Linda and Lou included us in their annual Christmas letter.

After the passing of your father, Linda had requested copies of any picture I had of him to include in an album she was putting together. I forwarded what I had, and on July 9, 2019 she emailed and thanked me for sending them. I had no idea she would be gone in just over two weeks.

The passing of your parents has touched me deeply. They represented an era in my life that cannot be replaced. I recently did a Google search and found out that Jack passed away in 2018. Have not been able to locate Todd or Craig, and your parents did not know of their location when last we spoke. The book is slowly closing on our generation and I am privileged to have known, laughed with, and shared many unforgettable experiences with your parents.

Once again, please accept our belated condolences,

Donald and Sheila Thomas
September 10, 2020
[email protected]