Robert C. Striker

Douglas, Massachusetts. Robert C. Striker, 76, of Douglas, and long time resident of Blairstown, NJ, died Tuesday, August 8th in Worcester, with his wife by his side.

He was born in Brooklyn, NY son on the late Fred and Helen (Campbell) Striker. He graduated from Montreal High School, Quebec Canada and earned his pilot's license at Cartierville Airport, Montreal, Canada. He was a T-6 and T-33 pilot in the Royal Canadian Air force and later flew the DC-3, DC-4, Viscount, and DC-8 aircraft for several Canadian airlines including Canadian Pacific Airlines, Trans Canada Airlines, and Air Canada. He flew the Boeing 720 and Boeing 727 aircraft for Eastern Airlines for 23 years, based out of Newark, NJ. He retired as a Boeing 727 Captain in 1989.

Robert was an avid skier and enjoyed skiing in Canada (where he met his wife), Europe, and later in Pennsylvania and New Jersey where he skied with his family. He also enjoyed vegetable gardening, canoeing and ballroom dancing. Once retired, he built his own kayak and enjoyed paddling it on the lakes of Northern New Jersey.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Aileen (Ottenbreit) Striker of Douglas, Massachusetts, one daughter, Liana and husband Stephen Desio of Worcester, Massachusetts, 2 sons, Richard and wife Leah Striker of Mesa Arizona, and Arthur and wife Stephanie Striker of Denver Colorado, and 3 grandchildren. He was predeceased in 2005 by his sister, Betty (Striker) Galloway of Ontario, Canada and in 1971 by his daughter, Alyssa Striker.

A private family memorial will be held in New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Airline Pilots Association Scholarship Fund, in memory of Captain Robert Striker, Eastern Airlines, and mailed to: ALPA Scholarship Fund, 1625 Massachusetts Ave., Washington DC, 20036, Attn. Maggie Urzen.