Obituaries

Continued from Page 66 deck and detonated inside the ship, causing fires to spread rapidly. Damage control parties on the carrier worked bravely to save their ship.

This was exemplified by the heroic action of Lt. Milton Ernest Ricketts, of Baltimore, Maryland, a 1935 graduate of the Naval Academy. He was mortally wounded when the fires caused by the exploding bomb spread. Despite his weakened condition, Lt. Ricketts promptly opened the valve of a nearby fireplug, partially let out the fire hose and directed a heavy stream of water into the fire before dropping dead beside the hose. His courageous action, which undoubtedly prevented the rapid spread of fire, saved the ship.

His unflinching devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Navy. He gallantly gave his life for his country, and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

The Royal Australian Navy’s overall contribution to the Battle of the Coral Sea may not have been as spectacular as that of the American carriers, but the work done by the coast watchers, intelligence staff, the cruisers and other support ships and personnel all contributed to the final result, not just at the Coral Sea, but throughout the Pacific War.

With the loss of the Japanese carrier Sh h , the damage to the Zuikaku, and the depleted aircraft complement on the Shokaku, Adm. Inoue lost his air cover. As a result, he ordered the Port Moresby invasion force to retire.

The Yorktown limped back to Pearl Harbor with Adm. Fletcher on board. Upon arrival, Adm. Nimitz asked how long repairs would take, he was told two weeks. Knowing of the pending Battle of Midway, he ordered the ship made ready in 72 hours! Without the heroism of Baltimore’s Lt. Ricketts, that would not have been possible.

So, ended the Battle of the Coral Sea, the first carrier-to-carrier engagement in the Pacific War. It also marked the first time since the start of the war that a major Japanese advance had been checked. The U.S. Navy lost the carrier Lexington, the oiler Neosho, the destroyer Sims, 69 aircraft, and 656 men killed. The Lexington, fully loaded, weighed 48,000 tons. It was, by far, the greatest ship loss suffered by the U.S. Navy in World War II.

The Japanese lost the light carrier Sh h , one destroyer, three minesweepers, 97 aircraft, and 966 men were killed. Tactically, the Japanese won the battle based on the tonnage of ships sunk. Strategically, however, the U.S. won because the Japanese Port Moresby invasion force had to retire, and a major Japanese landing was thwarted.

Next week: The Second Battle of Kharkov (Kharkiv) RICHARD ALBERT PASSWATER Winterville/Sarasota/Ocean Pines

Richard Albert Passwater of Winterville, North Carolina, Sarasota, Florida, and Ocean Pines, Maryland, passed into his eternal rest on April 28, 2022, at the age of 84. He is preceded in death by his parents, Stanley Sr. and Mabel King Passwater; and his brother, Stanley Passwater Jr. He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Barbara; their two children, Richard Alan (Myriam) and Michael (Ellen); two grandchildren, Matt (Chelsea) and Thomas; and two great-grandchildren, Audrey and Jamison; as well as a nephew, Steve Passwater, and many loving cousins.

He enjoyed time with family and friends, photography, genealogy, and Baltimore Orioles and Delmarva Shorebirds games.

During his extensive career, he served as a civilian scientist with the Air Force’s Project Papa Bear to ensure the purity of liquid nitrogen for the Centaur rocket; he was director, Research Analytics Laboratories at Allied Chemical Corporation; director, Applications Research Laboratory at Baxter-Travenol Laboratories; vice president of research for the American Gerontological Research Laboratories Division of Life Science Labs; and vice president of research and development for Solgar Vitamin & Herb Company.

He wrote more than 45 books and 600 articles, participated in over 7,000 radio shows, and served as WholeFoods Magazine’s science editor for 36 years.

He was twice honored by the Com-

mittee for World Health (1978 and 1980), received the nutrition industry’s Achievement Award (1989), National Nutrition Foods Association’s Presidents Award (1999), James Lind Scientific Achievement Award (2004), John Peter Zenger Free Press Award for writing (2004), and was inducted into the International Society of Orthomolecular Medicine Hall of Fame (2021). He also was voted Citizen of the Year by his community (Ocean Pines, R. Passwater Maryland, 1987), and was inducted into the Delmarva Firefighter’s Hall of Fame (1993) after serving 25 years as a volunteer EMT and firefighter, including 10 years as Chief of the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department (OPVFD). He was a founding advisor of Atlantic General Hospital, a member of the American Chemical Society since Continued on Page 68

Continued from Page 67 1959, and a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemistry.

The family is appreciative of the care provided by ECU Health, Physicians East, and Pruitt Hospice.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at Bishop-Hastings Funeral Home in Selbyville, where a visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Burial will be in Garden of the Pines Cemetery in Berlin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the OPVFD (https://opvfd.com/page/donations); your local fire department; PANCAN (www.pancan.org); or Vitamin Angels (www.vitaminangels.org).

To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Richard A. Passwater, visit https://www.bishophastingsfh.com/obituary/richardpasswater.

JOSEPH L. ZORBACH, JR. Ocean City

Joseph L. Zorbach, Jr., passed away peacefully with his beloved family by his side on April 26, 2022.

Joe (or fondly known as OCBocaJoe) grew up in Parkville, Maryland, where he made lifelong friendships.

Joining the Navy as a young man, he served our country honorably. Upon leaving the service, he worked for many years as an engineer on the tugboats out of Fells Point, Maryland. He built his first home in Forest Hill, Maryland, where he resided until his retirement. His love of the water brought him an early retirement where he moved to Ocean City, Maryland, and lived the remaining years of his life in his oceanfront condo.

During his retirement, he spent many years traveling with his good friend, Eddie, and meeting up with his friends at the Ocean Club at the Clarion Hotel.

For several years, he worked as an engineer on the Cape May Lewes Ferry.

Joe never met a person who didn’t become a friend. As much as he loved the sea, he adored his family.

Many beach days and Boardwalk nights were spent with his children and grandchildren. There’s nothing Joe loved more and was more proud of than his children.

He is survived by his daughter, Robyn F. Bosley (and husband, Jay) of Bishopville, Maryland, and Joseph F. Zorbach (and wife, Brittnie) of Ocean City, Maryland.

He is also survived by his former wife and dear friend, Mary F. Zorbach of Selbyville, Delaware, and a brother, C. Francis Zorbach of Fallston, Maryland.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Ethel Zorbach (née Hewitt) and Joseph L. Zorbach.

Joe gained so much joy from spending time with his granddaughters, Brooke A. Marshall of Bel Air, Maryland, and Zoe Rae Zorbach of Ocean City, Maryland, and his grandsons, Brayden F. Bosley and Luke J. Bosley of Bishopville, Maryland.

Joe lived his life exactly how he wanted and never grew old; he was able to live independently until the day he had to leave this world.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 24, 2022, at the Ocean Club in the Clarion Hotel located at 10100 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City, Maryland; friends and family will gather at 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Joe’s honor to The Chesapeake Bay Foundation www.cbf.org.

Arrangements are in the care of Eastern Shore Cremation and Funeral Service, 504 Franklin Avenue, Berlin, Maryland 21811. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.easternshorecremation.com.

FRANCIS W. MACHEN Ocean Pines

Francis W. Machen (Bunky), age 87, passed away peacefully at his home on April 28, 2022. He was born in Sparrows Point, Maryland, on Aug. 2, 1934. He was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth Machen, and father, Wilber Machen. He is survived by his loving wife, Marie (Bonnie) Machen; sister, Wilma Myers; and children, Mary and Skip Mclaughlin, Stephen Machen, Beverly and Charlie Shields, and Kathleen Machen; 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Bunky was a volunteer ambulance driver for Sparrow Point Fire Department. He was a tap dancer and took professional lessons in New York City until his mid 20’s.

He retired from Bethlehem Steel in 1988 after 35 years of service. He then moved to Ocean Pines, where he spent his next 32 years working at area golf courses as a starter.

He was appointed to the Baltimore County Clerk of District Court and served there approximately six years. He served in the military as a member of the Marine Corps, where he made lifetime friends.

He was an outstanding baseball player and played softball well into his 50’s. He also enjoyed racquetball, golf and all competitive sports.

He always enjoyed dining out with his wife and many friends. He will be deeply missed by all.

Services will be held at Saint John Neumann Catholic Church,11220 Beauchamp Road, Berlin, Maryland 21811, Monday, May 9, 2022 at 11 a.m. in lieu of flowers donations can be made to Coastal Hospice.

EARL E. ROLAND Berlin

Earl E. Roland, age 74, passed away at his home in Berlin, Maryland, on Monday, April 25, 2022. Born in Washington, D.C., he was the son of the late George Roland and Mary Reynolds. He is survived by his wife, Joann Roland; two daughters, Andrea Huici (Michael) and Kimberly Roland (Randy); two brothers, George Roland (Mary) and Russell Roland; and a sister, Regina Roland.

He is also survived by several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, Anthony Earl Roland; and a brother, Paul Roland.

A visitation was held at The Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin, Maryland, on Sunday, May 1, 2022. Interment was at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton, Maryland, on Monday, May 2.

Letters of condolences can be sent to the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home.

J. Zorbach, Jr. Francis Machen

Earl E. Roland