Obituaries

George StalkAir Force Colonel

George Stalk, 82, a retired Air Force colonel who served from World War II to Vietnam, died of respiratory failure Sept. 26 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He lived in Springfield.

Col. Stalk was born in Detroit. He entered pilot training with the Army Air Forces in 1943 and soloed that year. During World War II, he trained pilots in Arkansas and flew many types of aircraft, including B-25 bombers and C-7 Caribou transports in Vietnam.

He graduated from Purdue University after World War II and received an advanced degree in structured aeronautical engineering from the California Institute of Technology.

Col. Stalk served in several Air Force aeronautical and structural engineering research labs and worked on the U.S. atomic test programs at Eniwetok Atoll and the Nevada test site. His last military assignment was at the Air Force aeronautical office of scientific research in Rosslyn, where he retired in 1973.

Among his military awards was a Distinguished Flying Cross for flying under fire in Vietnam to pick up wounded soldiers at a remote field.

In retirement, he bought a private plane. He and his wife, also a pilot, spent many hours flying their two Piper Cherokees and a Cessna.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Joan F. Fleming Stalk of Springfield; two sons, George Stalk Jr. of Toronto and Bruce Stalk of Tacoma, Wash.; and seven grandchildren.

John Mark LacovaraSenate Staff Member

John Mark Lacovara, 56, a former staff member of the U.S. Senate, died Oct. 3 at Inova Fairfax Hospital of multiple organ failure after an aortic dissection, a rupture in an artery of his heart. He had a congenital heart condition and had received a heart transplant several years ago.

Mr. Lacovara, who was born in Washington, grew up in Rockville and was a graduate of Richard Montgomery High School. He graduated from Prince George's Community College and received a bachelor's degree in American history from the University of Maryland. He was a member of the Air Force Reserve for several years.

After becoming a Senate staff member in 1969, Mr. Lacovara held several positions, including enrolling clerk and congressional records clerk. When he retired for health reasons in 1997, he was assistant recording secretary of the Senate. He sat on the dais near the Senate's officers, recording the vote on every measure.

From 2000 to 2005, he served as a substitute teacher at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, teaching history and physical education. He also had a part-time business, Classic Gold DJ's, and worked as a disc jockey and host at weddings, parties and charitable events.

Mr. Lacovara had lived in Alexandria since 1983. He enjoyed golf, model railroading and playing the drums. He was a member of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America.