This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Unger, Iglesias, Schaut, Pivirotto Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/UW.2ADI/1973 Message Board Post: James T. Unger Longtime Montara resident James T. Unger was a decorated military man who excelled in business and owned a company. But what distinguished him as much if not more was integrity, compassion, devotion to family and a happy habit of following his heart. Military "morals and ethics were something he transcribed and took into later parts of his life," said Mr. Unger's son, Charles, of Dallas. "In his professional and personal life, he was a very giving person and had an infinite amount of patience to help people see the way he saw the world." Mr. Unger's wife, Ruth Unger of Montara, noted that the West Point motto of "duty, honor, country," with the addition of "and family," fit her husband well. Mr. Unger died Oct. 30 at Stanford Hospital at age 61 after suffering cardiac arrest in the course of treatment for cancer. He was born Oct. 17, 1943, in Mississippi into an Army family, and grew up around the United States and Europe. A year after finishing high school he followed his father's footsteps and entered the U.S. Military Academy, graduating in 1966, the same year he married his first wife, Virginia Iglesias. He volunteered for duty in Vietnam, and as a result was deployed to Southeast Asia in 1967 as a second lieutenant. There, as an infantry platoon leader, he spent a year in the jungle in combat. He was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, medals for valor, the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantry Badge, and was promoted to first lieutenant. Later he served in the Advanced Airborne School, receiving commendations and a promotion to the rank of captain. His sons were born in this time. In 1970, at his request, he transferred to the Air Force to fly high-performance combat aircraft. He volunteered for a second tour of duty in Southeast Asia, and served again in Vietnam, flying 42 combat missions and ultimately receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and additional medals. "He wasn't about showing off his medals," said his son Joseph Unger of Augusta, Ga., adding that his father "was very, very patriotic." He also taught Strategic Air cCommand procedures. During his military service Mr. Unger lived across the United States, but upon resigning from the military in 1975 he moved his family to the East Coast, worked his way through Harvard Business School to an MBA, and then relocated to California in 1978 to work for Southern Pacific as a production manager. At that time he rediscovered his passion for teaching and lectured in management at California State University, Sacramento. Separated from his wife and later divorced, he moved in 1983 to Montara, near the woman who became his second wife, Margit Schaut. A few years later, he left the corporate world and followed his heart again, while still continuing to teach management systems at Golden Gate University. Wanting to build houses and spend more time with family, in 1988 he started CPM General Construction, based in Montara. That was different from his previous life of military service and business. "He threw it away to do what he wanted and follow his heart," said son Charles. "He enjoyed working with his hands, creating something where nothing was before," said Joseph. On the Coastside, he was active in the local Rotary Club and American Legion, and was a special commissioner for San Mateo County. He battled esophageal cancer in 1992. It went into remission, though he lost his wife to the same disease in 1997. In 1999, he married Ruth Larkin of Pittsburgh. Mr. Unger's family pointed out his dedication to faith. "He was a man of strong religious beliefs, and faith dominated his life," said his wife. "Part of the reason he was the person he was, (was) becaue of his strong belief in God." Mr. Unger is survived by his wife, Ruth Unger of Montara, sons Charles Unger of Dallas and Joseph Unger of Augusta, Ga., his stepson Billy Pivirotto of Montara - with whom he shared a love of Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Francisco 49ers games - five grandchildren, and niece Bayly, of Alexandria, Va. A public viewing will be held at the Miller-Dutra Coastside Chapel from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4, followed by a noon funeral service at Our Lady of the Pillar Catholic Church in Half Moon Bay. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society. Wednesday, November 3, 2004 Half Moon Bay Review and Pescadero Pebble