San Jose – Firefighters will gather together to pay their respects to Airtanker Pilot Geoffrey “Craig” Hunt as well as to his family, who paid the ultimate sacrifice with his life while fighting the Dog Rock Fire near El Portal, California. A celebration of Craig’s life, with full Line of Duty Death fire service honors, will take place Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 10 a.m.

On October 7, 2014, Dyncorp Pilot Geoffrey “Craig” Hunt was involved in a fatal crash while flying a CAL FIRE S-2T Airtanker over the Dog Rock fire burning near Yosemite’s Arch Rock. “We continue to mourn the tragic loss of Craig.” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE Director. “We know wildland firefighting is an inherently dangerous job, but Craig made the ultimate sacrifice.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the pilot’s family during this difficult time,” said Jeff Cavarra, program director for DynCorp International.

Geoffrey ”Craig” Hunt was born October 14, 1951 in Richmond, IN. He is survived by his wife, Sally, who he married in September of 1975, and his two daughters, Nancy Hunt and Sarah Hunt Lauterbach. Hunt served as a US Navy P3 pilot from 1975-1984 and was in the reserves for 20 years. Hunt earned a Masters in Business as well as in Biochemistry and was a chemistry teacher in the off season at the University of Santa Cruz. He had a love for flying, golfing, fishing, hiking, bird watching, scuba diving, math/sciences, teaching and dogs. More

“My dad died a hero. There was not a day that went by that I didn’t talk to my dad. He was my best friend”, Sarah Hunt Lauterbach.

Memorial Service

Location: Church on the Hill, 500 Sands Dr., San Jose, CA 95125

Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 10 a.m.

Attire for uniformed personnel is to be either Department Class A Uniform or Work Uniform with tie.

Public Safety Departments or Agencies that wish to attend or send apparatus for the memorial static display, please click here. Please arrive at the church by 9 a.m. for set up.

Media representatives that plan to attend the memorial service please RSVP here. There will be a media briefing, day of, at the church at 9:15 a.m.

Cards can be sent to the family in care of:

The Hunt Family

c/o CAL FIRE Firefighters Local 2881

1731 J Street, Ste. 100

Sacramento, CA 95811

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to:

G. Craig Hunt Memorial Fund

Ashville School

360 Ashville School Road

Ashville, NC 28806

This fund will be designated for scholarship and athletics at the Ashville School.

Contact: Tom Marberger at (828) 254-6345 ext. 4081

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