Lt Col Robert F McKiernan USMC Ret

Lt. Col. Robert F. McKiernan, U.S.M.C., Ret, 65 of Worcester, passed away on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, surrounded by his loving family and friends in his home, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. He is survived by his son, Michael W. McKiernan of Dana Point, CA; four brothers, John J. McKiernan and his wife Annette of Paxton, William P. McKiernan of Worcester, Terence J. McKiernan and his wife Shelley of Holden, and Francis X. McKiernan and his wife Mary of Worcester; three sisters, Barbara A. Murphy and her husband James F. of Worcester; Eileen F. Bagley of South Yarmouth and Mary E. McKiernan of Sutton; his companion of eighteen years, Phyllis DiBenedetto; several nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Kathleen Taylor. Robert was born in Worcester, son of the late William P. and Pearl M. (Jeannotte) McKiernan. Lt. Col. McKiernan graduated from Saint John's High School in 1963. He later graduated from Worcester State College in 1967 and earned a Master of Arts Degree from Chapman's College in California in 1974 and a Masters Degree in Special Education from Fitchburg State College in 1991. He has been a mathematics teacher at Sullivan Middle School, since 1991. He began his career in the United States Marine Corps in 1968. He was then selected to attend aviation training and earned aviator wings after graduating from flight school in 1969. He was then assigned to Camp Pendleton for training and was designated a naval aviator. He was an attack helicopter commander in Vietnam. He then returned to the United States and served as Platoon Commander, Air Naval Gunfire Platoon, which was later deployed to the Caribbean. He later returned to Camp Pendleton where he served as Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer and Logistics Officer. In 1975 he reported to Quantico, Virginia to attend Amphibious Warfare School and upon graduation he was ordered to Marine Corps Headquarters to serve as Aviation Projects Officer. He reported to the USS Tripoli in 1979, and deployed to the Western Pacific and served as the Air Operations Officer and headed the Helicopter Direction Center. He was awarded thirty six strike flight awards, the Navy Commendation Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon along with the Air Medal. Calling hours will be held tonight, Thursday, May 27, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. in Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester. His funeral will be held Friday, May 28, from the funeral home, with a Mass at 10 a.m. in Saint Stephen's Church, 357 Grafton Street Worcester. Interment will follow in Saint John's Cemetery, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.