Second Lt. Andrew Jacob Torres, USMC, died on April 3, 2004, at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles, following a courageous battle with cancer. His parents, Leonard and Anita (Brenner) Torres; sister Rachel Torres, and girlfriend, Ens. Ana Ortiz, USN, were at his bedside. Andrew was 23 years old.

Born at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena on Aug. 1, 1980, Andrew became interested in military service because his father served as a Marine officer with Force Recon in Vietnam and his great-uncle, also a Marine, fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima during WW II.

Andrew attended local schools beginning with Pacific Oaks Childrens School through kindergarten, followed by La Canada and Palm Crest elementary schools, where local educator and former principal Don Hingst remembers him as a student who loved to play flag football, and as a personable young man with many friends.

"My last remembrance of him was at the memorial service that he organized for his good friend,
Todd Bryant, who was killed in Iraq," Hingst said this week. "He looked so handsome and smart in his uniform. One would not know that his young life was threatened by cancer. I choose to
remember him as a handsome, vital young man who loved his country and was willing to serve all of us in the military."

Memorial services were held at the United States Naval Academy Chapel on Thursday, April 8, 2004. Graveside services were held on Friday, April 9, 2004 at 10:00 a.m., at Forest Lawn Glendale, located at 1712 S Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91205-3320.

At Andrew's request, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the USC Norris Cancer
Center. c/o USC Norris Cancer Center Development Office 1441 Eastlake Avenue, 8th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 865-0700. In the memo state "2nd Lt. Andrew J. Torres Research Fund " The fund will be directed to the research of Heinz Josef Lenz, M.D. Plans are underway for a memorial fundraiser golf tournament in April or May of 2005.

Dec 14, 2001
http://www.usma.edu/PublicAffairs/PV/BraveSoldier.htm
Robert Adam Renneman graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy June 1, 1951, but at a height of 6-feet 7-inches, he had grown too tall for shipboard duty. For this reason, he took his commission in the Army and joined the Infantry. He died in Korea and was recently honored by a display case at West Pt for his service to his country.

December 11, 2001
http://www.usna.com/WhatsNew/2001/911Observance/911Observance.htm
The USNA Alumni Assn has a great tribute to the December 11 remembrance, including pictures.

July 29, 2001
For more info go to http://mattklotzbach.com.
the following as published in the ANG Newspapers. USNA posts information about Matt's accident here.


MIDN 2/C Matthew Thomas Klotzbach, USN, 22, of Livermore died on Sunday, July 29, 2001 in an auto collision. (Note from WebMom: He was killed by a drunk driver while riding home with his parents from a church camp, after hearing a Christian speaker.) He was a Midshipman at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland where he pursued his lifelong dream to become a pilot and was on track to become a 1st Sergeant of his Company this coming year. Midshipman Second Class Matthew Klotzbach, United States Navy, was a history major at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. About to begin his junior year, he had consistently been on the Dean's List for superior academic achievement. Matthew was active in intramural sports, and was a member of the Navigators, a volunteer religious organization of midshipmen at the Naval Academy.

For his career after graduation, Matthew was considering both flight training and the seminary. He was a graduate of Livermore High and was a member of the football, soccer, swim & baseball teams there. He was active in the youth group at Cedar Grove Community Church and had a strong, personal faith in God. He served as a Chairman of the Youth Advisory Commission for the City of Livermore during high school. He cherished times spent with family. His life was characterized by his engaging personality and his perpetual smile. He was admired and loved by all who knew him. He had a passion for life and his fellow man well beyond his years. He enjoyed water skiing, wakeboarding, snow skiing & recently took up snowboarding. He was the oldest of 4 children and is survived by his parents, Roy Thomas & Mary Klotzbach; sisters, Katie, 19; & Kerry, 14; and brother, Michael, 17; grandmothers, Geraldine Whitney of Laguna Nigel, California and Eleanor Klotzbach of Corfu, New York. Burial will be at National Cemetery, Annapolis, MD. Donations can be made to Cedar Grove Community Church to the Matthew T. Klotzbach Memorial Account. The funds will be used towards helping the Navigator ministry at the Naval Academy and youth outreach programs at the church.

Here are some photos that Matt took to send home to his Mom the winter before he was gone

Four of Matt's company mates flew out to California on May 7,2002 to present Matt's class ring to his parents. They took up a collection among Matt's friends in the 21st company and bought the ring that Matt had chosen just one week before he died. Matt's dad now wears the ring in honor of his son.

Christopher Gubitosa - April 29, 2001

Christopher Neil Gubitosa was an achiever. Throughout his life he was energetic and driven to always do his best. When it came time for the Bay Shore student to select a career, he chose the Navy Seals, an elite group whose reputation for excellence seemed to match his own hopes for the future. Lt. Christopher Neil Gubitosa never got the opportunity to reach his dreams, however. On April 29, 2001 at the age of 27, he was killed in a head-on collision in Middletown, near Rhode Island.

Growing up in Bay Shore, Lt. Gubitosa attended local schools and then St. Anthony High School in Huntington. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy in 1997 after being appointed by former Cong. Rick Lazio. He graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland in 1997.

Though he trained with the Seals, he decided instead to teach at the U.S. Naval Preparatory School in Rhode Island and was a physics instructor. He had spent most of his last year going through the Pacific and had seen most of the world. On those trips, he developed close friendships and kept in touch with many of those servicemen and their families. "He was a good friend; he loved people, was kind and gentle," said his mother. "And he was always there if someone needed him."

Before his death, Lt. Gubitosa made a trip to San Diego to be with the wife of a fellow officer who was stationed overseas. The woman was giving birth and Lt. Gubibtosa stayed at the hospital to be there when the baby was born and to relate the information to the new father personally. Great appreciation was expressed by others who knew and worked with him. In a poem written by his students, he was described as a man who was committed to doing the right thing but who managed to carry that sense of responsibility with grace. "He carried a sort of light; He broke no rules, just brought smiles and laughter; the happiness he held was just that bright."

A funeral mass for Lt. Gubitosa Was said at St. Patrick’s R.C. Church Bay Shore. Arrangements were under the direction of the Claude R. Boyd-Spencer Funeral Home, 449 West Main St., Babylon Village.

Following a Grand Jury investigation, Ms. Ginnakakos was subsequently indicted on charges of "driving to endanger death resulting." Some time after the indictment my husband and I met with the prosecutor, Mr. John Sullivan and were provided with the details surrounding our son's death. We were later provided with a copy of the police report which included some disturbing details regarding the police investigation that took place at the scene of the collision.

Ms. Ginnakakos' trial was scheduled was begin at the Newport Rhode Island Superior Court on Monday, November 24, 2003. The address is as follows: Superior Court, Newport County Courthouse, Florence K. Murray Judicial Complex, 35 Washington Square, Newport, Rhode Island 02840. The telephone number for this office is (401) 841-8310. (editor: However, now the trial related to Lt. Gubitosa's death has been postponed until early next year.)

We just found out this past week that a new court date has been set for Lt. Gubitosa. This one seems definite. The trial is scheduled for Monday, January 26, 2004 at the following location: Superior Court, Newport CountyCourthouse, Florence K. Murray Judicial Complex, 35 Washington Square, Newport, Rhode Island 02870. If anyone needs any further information they can contact Ms. Deborah Nunez, Victim Advocate in the Attorney General's office. Her phone number is as follows: (401) 782-4150.

We would appreciate it if you would email the various parent groups throughout the region. Perhaps some of Christopher's classmates and/or friends are either in Newport or perhaps will be in the Newport area the week of the trial. We appreciate all of your help. If anyone would like to email us they can do so at aagubi@optonline.net. Also, if they would like to telephone us that would be fine also. Our telephone number is as follows: (631) 666-2694 (home number) and cell numbers (631) 334-6669 (Tony Gubitosa) and (631) 383-2693 (Anella Gubitosa).

We are going to need all the help we can get. This past week the defendant's attorney offered a plea bargain whereby the accused would not plead innocent or guilty but would be out on parole for five years. This means she gets off on the felony charge of driving and killing our son. We have made the decision to go ahead with the trial.

Sincerely,
The Gubitosa Family