Jonathan G. Rand On
the 13th of January 2007, Jonathan G. Rand, husband, father, grandfather
and friend made his final flight. A memorial service for Jon was held
on the 19th of January at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,
Sun City, CA. Jon was buried in the Riverside National Cemetery with
full military honors. He is survived by his wife, Donna; his mother,
a brother, six children and, and a grandson. Jon was born in Detroit,
MI on the 20th of October 1945 to Ruth and Leonard Rand. His father
was a civilian employee of the US Army, and, as a result, Jon attended
high school at Camp Zama, Japan. In the fall of of 1963, he started
education at the University of Colorado/Boulder. Although having the
time of his life as a Sigma Chi brother, Jon's ultimate goal was to
serve his country in the United States Air Force. So on the 29th of
June 1964, he gathered with 1,015 other young men to enter the Air Force
Academy as the Class of 1968. Jon was a model cadet, making the Commandant's
List every semester. More importantly, however, he was affable, easy
going, and generous with his time. He was popular among his classmates
and made a name for himself as the banjo player in a Kingston Trio look-a-like
group called The Third Addition that wowed large audiences on many occasions.
When he wasn't playing his banjo or "hitting the books", Jon
played water polo on the varsity team and enjoyed his Alpha Romeo sports
car. After graduation and commissioning as a second lieutenant, Jon
entered pilot training at Moody AFB, GA. Next came B-52 transition training
and assignment to Loring AFB, ME. He arrived at his new base at the
height of the war in Southeast Asia and subsequently spent half his
time in Thailand and Guam, flying missions around the clock. Although
he upgraded to aircraft commander in minimum time and was on his way
to a very successful Air Force career, he had something different in
mind. In June 1973 he left the Air Force and enrolled in Brigham Young
University. While there, he earned a Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology.
During the next two decades, he devoted his life to the practice of
naturopathy and the promotion of its efficacy and earned his Doctorate
in Naturopathic Medicine. Jon was an outstanding public speaker and
spent his last years addressing large audiences at meetings and conferences
throughout the world. At the time of his passing, Jon was serving as
the Vice President for Facilitation, Partners in Leadership. Jon touched
many lives in profound and positive manner and will be sorely missed
by all. The winds on his final flight were surely favorable. |