David James Kamin

David J. (Captain Dave) Kamin passed away on January 19, 2023, at the age of 76.

He leaves behind his bride, Jacqueline, the love of his life and the person that taught him to accept all he met, regardless of color, hairstyle, beliefs or profession. He is also survived by two beautiful daughters, Crystal Ann Kamin, Heather Morris and son-in-law Erik, stepdaughter Susie and son-in-law Al McNew, stepdaughter LaDonn and son-in-law Steve Allen, and the special miracle in his life, his granddaughter, Marina Skye.

Dave retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1994 as a Chief Master Sergeant after a career spanning almost 30 years with assignments stateside in IL, SC, VA, and TX and overseas assignments in Germany, Vietnam, Hawaii and Korea. His final assignment was at Eglin AFB, FL, where he served as the Military Personnel Flight Superintendent, then as an integral part of Eglin’s transition to a Quality Improvement culture. Among his many military awards is recognition as the Air Force Human Resources Superintendent of the Year and Command level Human Resources Technician of the year on two occasions. His military decorations include the Bronze Star, six Meritorious Service Medals, The Air Force Commendation Medal, two Air Force Achievement Medals, The Air Force Recognition Ribbon and various other foreign service citations and ribbons from his two tours in Vietnam and three tours in Korea. While in Korea, he was a two-term commander of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post which involved both post members and nonmembers in promoting the core values of the VFW and supporting local orphanages.

Following retirement, He spent five years working on charter fishing boats at Eglin AFB and the Destin Army Recreation Center. Under the excellent tutelage of Captains’ Kevin Kresl (now deceased) and Marvin Jenkins, he became a licensed captain in 1996 and later upgraded to a 100-ton license in 1998. In that regard, he followed the path of the man he most admired in his life, his grandfather, a harbor pilot and tugboat captain. He moved on after that to various jobs in construction, attended vocational training at the Okaloosa Applied Technology Center, and then became a horticultural technician caring for indoor plants. Then he exited the workforce to play golf and garden. Dave had a wonderful talent with the written word, was a frequent contributor to "letters to the Editor" and "Spout-off".

Per his desires, his ashes (along with a well-done pepperoni pizza 😉) will placed in the columbarium at the Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida.