John Richard “Dick” Broom, age 79, died Aug. 6 at his home on Bainbridge.

He was born Nov. 16, 1922 in Seattle to Cromwell “C.W.” and Mable Broom.

The family soon moved to Crystal Springs; he attended elementary and middle school on the island, then commuted to Queen Anne High School, and graduated in 1940.

He joined the Navy to become a flight officer, rapidly advancing through several flight schools across the country. He received numerous honors and initially served as a flight instructor.

He later flew transport missions throughout Southeast Asia during World War II, taking ammunition and supplies into the combat zones and ferrying out wounded soldiers.

After the war, he left the Navy and entered the University of Washington.

He joined the Zeta Psi fraternity where he served in numerous capacities. He graduated in 1949, but stayed at UW in 1950 doing advanced studies in the business school, and was president of his fraternity.

He married his college sweetheart, Anne Broom, on Sept. 15, 1950. Early the following year, he was selected as a pilot for United Airlines.

After two years in Chicago, the couple came back to raise their family in Bellevue. In 1960, they began spending the summers on Bainbridge at the Broom family cabin at Point White, moving to the island permanently in 1963.

He loved children, flying, golf, sailing, other sports and artistic pursuits. He was an avid golfer at Wing Point Country Club, where he and Anne helped start and expand the junior golf program.

He supported a broad range of other athletic and social programs as his children grew up and later graduated from BHS.

He retired from United Airlines in 1982. He and Anne enjoyed their retirement years at their home on Crystal Springs, just down the beach from where he grew up.

He is survived by his four children — Andrea, Michael, Kevin and Patrick — and his grandchildren, Noelle, Brooks and Charlie.

He was preceded in death in 2001 by his wife.

At his request, after a private family ceremony, his remains will be dispersed over two of the couple’s favorite areas in the Northwest.

Remembrances can be made to Children’s Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 5371, Seattle, WA 98105.

Friends are invited to share their stories and memories by emailing michael.broom@attws.com.