The Class of ’70 honored our deceased classmate, Al Sabol, with a strong turnout at the Friday evening viewing as well as at a very moving “Celebration of Life” service the following day.
Several classmates and their spouses as well as Celeste Tethal attended the viewing in Leesburg, VA on Friday evening, April 5, 2013 to share condolences and memories with Al’s family and friends. Al’s coffin was open, flag-draped and surrounded by flowers intermingled with photos of Al. A beautiful floral arrangement was provided by TBone on behalf of the Class of ’70. Side rooms displayed numerous family photo albums showing Al’s very large and loving extended family. Following a video featuring Al, his family and highlights of Al’s life including his Coast Guard career and love of golf, classmates joined family and friends at the near-by River Creek Club for light refreshments. With glasses raised high, Goodie lead a final Class of ’70 toast to our classmate and friend. (Pictured here are Polly and Tim Terriberry with Dave Maloney.)
The following afternoon a “Celebration of Life” service was held that lasted for about 1 ½ hours. It was standing room only at the funeral home with even anterooms filled with mourners. Al’s three children, Mark, Paul, and Rebecca, each spoke eloquently and fondly of their Dad. All had moving comments, and Mark and Rebecca reflected some of Al’s humor, irreverence, and political leaning! Guy Goodwin spoke on behalf of the Class of ’70, sharing stories of cadet life, Al’s active time in the service, and his post-CG years which were spent predominantly in Northern Virginia. In addition to the Class of ’70 being well represented, attendees also included other Coasties, a large Sabol family, high school friends, a wide-range of co-workers, and a warm neighborhood group (for whom Al used his antique tractor to plow the snow from their driveways and roads!)
In honor of Al’s many dedicated years of organizing the CGHQ Invitational Golf tournament, which he won at least 6 times, the CG committee, headed by CAPT Austin Gould (CGA ’88), announced that they were naming the annual tournament winner’s trophy the “Captain Albert J. Sabol Memorial” trophy. Following Saturday’s service, the Sabol family hosted an “Al Sabol-like” reception at his River Creek home.
Classmates present (L to R) Tom Bernard, Tim Terriberry, Ed Labuda, Mark
O’Hara, Bruce Stubbs, Paul Hagstrom, TBone Taylor, John Gaughan, Guy Goodwin,
Denny Sirois, Tony Mink, Bill Kozak, Jim Olson, Dave Belz, Steve Rottier, Pete
Olsen.
Ladies present (L to R) Polly Terriberry, Celeste Tethal, Eileen Stubbs,
Patti Olson (behind), Kathy Kozak, Marilyn Taylor, Caroline O’Hara, Eileen
Goodwin, Terri Mink, Jan Belz, Bonnie Bernard, Gail Sirois (behind), Janyce
Olsen.