James Joseph ‘Joe’ Mccormick

January 29, 1922 - May 14, 2021

SAN DIEGO — Joe Mccormick passed away at the age of 99, although we had already lost a lot of this last year with him because of Covid restrictions. He was a war hero, with 57 missions as a pilot of a B-25 bomber in 1944/45. He was a part of that “Great Generation” who fought in WW2, participated in the tech and social transformation in the aftermath and generally made America what it used to be. He was born in San Diego to

James and Ella Mccormick and attended Hoover High, where he met Mary Hoffner, the love of his life. They were married on a quick trip to Yuma after he had completed his initial flight training.

He flew a well worn B-25 back to the states after his tour of duty. He was promoted to Lt. 1st class and assigned as a B-25 pilot instructor. Early in the Korean War, he was activated from the National Guard and

served in Okinawa during that conflict as Supply Captain on the island. Upon his release from active duty, he was hired in an apprenticeship program at NAS North Island as an electronics radar technician. With the advent of computers, he was trained with the first programming class there and finished his career in that capacity.

Joe had a broad range of friendships and interests. He came back from the military with a commitment to racial equality at a time when it was not in the zeitgeist. He was active in ham radio and upon retirement traveled three times across the United States, while keeping contact with friends via shortwave. He and Mary enjoyed the outdoors on these trips and made friends wherever they parked the motorhome. He was a skilled woodworker, including cabinet work, and remodeled kitchens with ease. He played a respectable game of golf into his 90’s and flew a beautiful yellow flight trainer out of Gillespie Field at the age of 89.

Joe was predeceased by his wife Mary in 2011. He is survived by four children John Mccormick (Kathy), Trudie Keough (Tom), Marty Mccormick (Leslie), Eileen Bird (Dan), nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. He has touched the hearts of many and will be greatly missed. Private services will be held at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery with Military Funeral Honors. A memorial contribution can be made to Advantage Health Systems Hospice.

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