Colonel James “Jim” Gravette of the U.S. Air force passed away on the 21st of October, 2016, and the Mason community and the world lost an exemplary man. Mr. Gravette had been a substitute at GM since 2004.

Mr. Gravette was born in 1932 in Cleveland, Ohio, the oldest of six children. He played football at Miami University of Oxford, Ohio where he graduated with a degree in education. He went on to achieve his Master’s degree at the University of Denver in 1954, and attended the National War College (1972).

Mr. Gravette entered the United States Air Force in 1954 after joining the Air Force ROTC program in college. Mr. Gravette was a member of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, where he flew as a navigator during the Vietnam War. Mr. Gravette was awarded the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Presidential Unit Citation. Colonel Gravette rose to become the Director of South American Affairs where he was instrumental in the development of of the Department of Defense objectives in Central and South America. Mr. Gravette retired in 1985, and received the Defense Superior Service Medal for his 30 years of service to the United States.

Mr. Gravette never stopped helping others: after his retirement, he continued to work for various defense firms around Northern Virginia. He also volunteered as a basketball coach for Saint Agnes Catholic School and the Knights of Columbus, in addition volunteering for the Military Officers Association of America.

“I admired the fact that after he served in the military, he continued public service through teaching,” said Nico Ferrara, a senior who is interested in the Air Force academy.

Though Mr. Gravette achieved so much in his life, his proudest title was being “grandpa”. He was a family man who believed in helping and caring for others around him. Mr. Gravette was known to Mason students as kind, calm, and caring.

“It was always obvious that Mr. Gravette cared about his students,” said senior Alice Castillo, who has had Mr. Gravette as a substitute teacher since 8th grade.

He believed strongly in education, and was always reading. Mr. Gravette was “very friendly and very helpful. He would follow the lesson plans… he was dependable and the kids always liked him; they always said he was such a nice man,” said English teacher Brian Walsh, who has worked with Mr. Gravette since he began as a sub at Mason.

“Whenever I saw Mr. Gravette, he always had his briefcase and book,” said junior Morgan O’Keefe.

Despite being a substitute, Mr. Gravette still knew the students at Mason and was able to connect with the kids.

“[Mr. Gravette] got to know the kids,” said Mr. Walsh, “Even though he was a substitute, he always seemed to be part of the community.”

Mr. Gravette is survived by his wife Margaret, his three children, and his grandchildren. His full obituary can be found here. Mr. Gravette left a legacy of kindness and selflessness. He will be greatly missed in the Mason community.