Herdic "Dic" W. King of Upper Nyack passed away on June 12, 2022, at the age of eighty-four. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and moved to Ramsey, New Jersey, where he graduated from Ramsey High School in 1955. In 1959, he was granted a degree from The Ohio State University. A year later he was recruited by the U.S. Navy and entered Aviation Officer Candidate School; three months later he emerged as a brand-new US Navy Ensign... a "ninety-day wonder," an officer on his way to flight training at Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida.
From that point on, Dic was good enough to qualify for single engine flight training in the Navy's supersonic fighter, the F8 Crusader. Eventually, flying off the Navy's newest super carriers USS Forrestal and USS Saratoga, he compiled 450 carrier landings, including 125 at night! Dic also flew as an instructor with the Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration team, helping them transition to the new F4 Phantom.
Following his retirement from the Navy after 8 years, Dic flew for Pan Am, then Delta Airlines, flying the Boeing 727 and Airbus A310 all over the skies of the USA & Europe. He would be smiling all the way!
Dic was an avid sailor. His love for the sport started in the 1970's, when he joined the Nyack Boat Club on the Hudson River. Dic was an active volunteer at Nyack, where he became Rear Commodore. To promote sailing on the river, he was one of the founders of The Tappan Zee Cruising Fleet. Dic purchased his first sailboat, "Foxy Lady", when he joined Nyack Boat Club. This was the first in a long line of boats that he actively cruised with his wife, Pat and raced with friends. While at Nyack Boat Club, he sailed in a number of Governor's Cup races in New York Harbor. From 1987 on, Dic focused his sailing around Buzzards Bay, which he often said "Was the best sailing on the East Coast." Dic loved to race. When the boat was located at Quissett Harbor, in Falmouth, MA, Dic frequently participated in the Vineyard Cup series as well as the Figawi, which is sailed between Hyannis and Nantucket, MA.
Dic is survived by his wife Patricia G. Kocak his son Darin King, wife Nazzarena and grandson Devin. In addition, he is survived by his sister Nancy Levin, her husband Michael, nieces Nanette, Michelle and Susan.
Details of the celebration of Dic's life will be communicated at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Nyack Boat Club
(59 Gedney Street, Nyack, NY 10960), Junior Sailing Program, to further the education of sailing on the Hudson.