Obituary for Lieutenant Colonel Stephen S. Eisenhauer, USMC

Stephen Swartz Eisenhauer ’54

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen S. Eisenhauer, USMC (Ret.), died 1 May 2016.  “Ike” attended Sheffield High School, PA, the Admiral Farragut Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy.  At USNA, Ike was in the Third Company and roomed in the First Wing Bancroft Hall.  He was a standout varsity football player and was selected twice to the First Team All-America Football Team and to the First Team Scholastic All-America Football Team.  On graduation, Ike was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Ike received Marine Officer training at The Basic School (Quantico, VA), and then attended naval aviator training (Pensacola, FL).  He became a FJ fighter pilot in VMF-235, Cherry Point, NC, and later flew the R4Q (VMR-252) during the First Lebanon Crisis.  Ike became aide to Major General Dawson, Armistice Commission Member in Korea, and then, CG, MCAS, El Toro, CA. Afterwards, Steve attended NPG, Monterey, CA, and earned a BS in aeronautical engineering. Ike then piloted F8A/E and F-4B aircraft in VMFA-122, El Toro, CA.

In Vietnam (1966-1967), Ike flew 120 combat missions in the F-4B, VMFA-542.  Then he became a Technical Manager, Naval Air Systems Command, Washington, DC. On assignment to George Washington University, he earned a MA in mathematical statistics.  Ike then became CO of VMCJ-1, Iwakuni, Japan, and flew the RF-4B and EA-6A. In 1973, he joined Headquarters, USMC, as Section Head, Manpower Programs and Budget Branch.  Ike retired there on 1 July 1975. 

Ike’s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Eight Air Medals and the Navy Commendation Medal w/V.

Ike then was a technical consultant to the Navy Department and NASA for 20 years. He specialized in weapons acquisition and was an advisor for the P-3 Aircraft, cruise missile and the Trident submarine programs, and also programs at the Goddard and Johnson Space Centers.  He was also an engineer for the Carrier Jet T-45 Flight Simulator program.   Ike was an Executive Committee member, Board of Trustees, Naval Academy Foundation, and Chairman, Awards Committee.  He was inducted in the GTE Scholar Athlete Hall of Fame (1992) and College Football Hall of Fame (1994).

  

Ike is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Bobbie; children, Susan Kessell (Frederick) and Gregory (Elizabeth); and grandchildren, Grace and Joseph.  He was predeceased by his infant son, Brian Lee, and two brothers, Dave and Edward.

   Inurnment was in the Naval Academy Columbarium on 19 May 2016 with full military honors.

The Eisenhauer Family