GERALD F. DECONTO, CAPT, USN
Gerald DeConto '79
Lucky Bag
From the 1979 Lucky Bag:
Gerald F. DeConto
Sandwich, Massachusetts
Gerry followed his nose from Sandwich, Mass. to USNA full of hope and ambition. He also thought he would try to get an education on the side. After his first swimming lesson he became known as “The Fish,” a name that became famous brigade-wide. Always ready for a party, Fish never let the place keep him from having a good time, and when the going got tough he always had the solution – a cold beer and a shot of Turkey!!! Sometimes though, the going would get too tough and he would have to sleep in the shower after too many solutions. These minor setbacks never stopped him for long. Fish became a jack-of-all-trades holding such titles as bartender, lead janitor, underground maintenance man, MacDonough Hall nighwatchman, and class undertaker. One of the most early going personalities in Bancroft history, he was considered a good friend by all he met. As a group, no one will forget the antics of the one-and-only “Fish” and as my closest friend, I will him all the luck in the world.
Gerald F. DeConto
Sandwich, Massachusetts
Gerry followed his nose from Sandwich, Mass. to USNA full of hope and ambition. He also thought he would try to get an education on the side. After his first swimming lesson he became known as “The Fish,” a name that became famous brigade-wide. Always ready for a party, Fish never let the place keep him from having a good time, and when the going got tough he always had the solution – a cold beer and a shot of Turkey!!! Sometimes though, the going would get too tough and he would have to sleep in the shower after too many solutions. These minor setbacks never stopped him for long. Fish became a jack-of-all-trades holding such titles as bartender, lead janitor, underground maintenance man, MacDonough Hall nighwatchman, and class undertaker. One of the most early going personalities in Bancroft history, he was considered a good friend by all he met. As a group, no one will forget the antics of the one-and-only “Fish” and as my closest friend, I will him all the luck in the world.
Loss
Gerald was killed in action on September 11, 2001 when the Pentagon was heavily damaged by a terrorist attack. He was director of Current Operations and Plans on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations.
Other Information
From the Naval Academy Alumni Association's 9/11 page:
Captain DeConto was born in Sandwich, MA, and was a high school soccer star before his appointment to the Academy. While on the Yard, Captain DeConto played rugby and graduated with a bachelor’s degree with a major in physics with the Class of 1979. Rising through the ranks, he served aboard EXCEL, FRESNO, HEWITT, LAKE ERIE and SIMPSON, also attending Naval War College and Naval Postgraduate School. Captain DeConto had been promoted to director of Current Operations and Plans and was at the Pentagon organizing a response to the crisis in New York from his office in the D Ring.
From The Boston Globe on September 21, 2001:
Captain DeConto was born in Halifax. He graduated from Sandwich High School in 1975, where he was an outstanding soccer and basketball player. He was also active in the Boy Scouts.
In 1979, he graduated from the US Naval Academy with a bachelor's degree in physics. Upon receiving his commission, he attended the Surface Warfare Officer School in San Diego before reporting to the USS Excel as a damage control assistant.
From 1982 to 1984, he served on the USS Fresno as an operations officer. He earned a master's of science degree in mechanical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., in 1986. He was assigned to the USS Hewitt, where he served as chief engineer from December 1986 to July 1989.
He also served as executive officer of the USS Lake Erie and commanding officer of the USS Simpson. He also was chief of staff for Standing Naval Force Mediterranean from April 2000 to May 2001.
Captain DeConto was assigned as director of current operations and plans branch for the Navy Command Center at the Pentagon in June 2001.
In addition to his extensive Navy activities, Captain DeConto enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, sailing, biking, shellfishing, skiing, and running with his dogs.
He leaves his mother, Patricia L. of Sandwich; two sisters, Dale K Choate of Mashpee and Marie DeConto-Thomas of Forestdale; and two brothers, David J. of Sandwich and Raymond E. of East Lynne, Conn.
A memorial Mass will be said at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Sandwich at noon on Sept 29..
Gerald is buried in Arlington National Cemetery; he is listed at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial and the National September 11 Memorial.
Remembrances
From USNA Alumni Association:
Few, if any, people at Annapolis roomed together from start to finish. From this you can conclude one of two things—we had either become inseparable friends or everyone else hated us both … it was not the latter. We had become best friends, the kind that make it a no-brainer to choose a best man for your wedding and a godfather for your first son. He was the brother that I never had, and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of him. I know that Jerry was deeply proud of four things: he was proud to be from the Naval Academy Class of 1979, he was proud of his naval service, he was proud to be from Sandwich, MA, and he was VERY proud of his family. Carl Rehling '79
Photographs
Memorial Hall Error
Gerald is not listed on the killed in action panel in the front of Memorial Hall. All active duty service members killed or wounded in the September 11 attacks were awarded the Purple Heart Medal pursuant to section 1129a of Title 10, U.S.C., which was passed into law in 2014.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
