Charles Thomas “Tom” Steckler passed away on March 6, 2026, in Huntsville, Alabama. He was 90 years old. He lived a full and meaningful life, sharing 62 wonderful years with his devoted wife. His naval career brought him many adventures and remarkable experiences, and at home he was a deeply devoted father who cared generously for his two children. He will be greatly missed.
Tom grew up in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, the oldest of four children born to Charles and Mary Ellen Steckler. At Mt. Carmel High School, he distinguished himself as a student and athlete. He was a high school football All-American in the 1952 season, president of the senior class, and a starting forward on the 1952–53 conference co-champion basketball team. He loved his hometown and all of the dear people, stories and culture. This sustained him his whole life and he returned often.
He attended Northwestern University on football and basketball scholarships, where he studied for two years and was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
In 1958, Tom joined the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviation Cadet and received his Naval Aviator designation on July 1, 1959. Three days later, he married the former Katherine Curlee Parks of Mobile, Alabama—these were the two best things that ever happened to him.
As a newly commissioned ensign and helicopter pilot, Tom began his naval career in Lakehurst, New Jersey, where he made eleven deployments aboard seven different aircraft carriers. He later served in Pensacola, Florida, as a flight and ground school instructor. During that time, he helped train several Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo astronauts in helicopter techniques designed to simulate the vertical descent used in lunar landings. Dearest, lifelong navy friendships were forged in these two duty stations and would go on to support Tom and Kathy throughout their life.
He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA in 1971.
Over the course of his distinguished 31-year naval career, Captain Steckler held numerous leadership positions, including Deputy Commander of Naval Air Reserve; Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station New Orleans; Director of the Enlisted Performance Division at the Pentagon; Commander of Helicopter Wing Reserve, West Coast; and Commanding Officer of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 11 (HS-11). He logged more than 5,300 flight hours and completed 1,900 landings on twelve aircraft carriers. His service included participation in the Cuban blockade of 1962.
Captain Steckler’s many military honors included the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, the Navy Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Award; and the Navy and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals. He was a lifetime member of the Association of Naval Aviation.
After retiring from the Navy in 1989, Tom began a second career as a math teacher and coach at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile, Alabama, where he served from 1990 to 1998. During his time as boys’ tennis coach, the team won five consecutive state championships.
In 1999, Tom and Kathy moved to Huntsville to be closer to their beloved granddaughter. He enjoyed golf, working for a time in the Redstone Arsenal golf pro shop, playing pickleball, traveling, substitute teaching at Randolph School, and sharing daily happy hours with Kathy.
His family is deeply grateful for the kindness and care shown to Tom in his later years by the staffs of Brookdale Senior Living of Jones Valley and The Goldton Memory Care at Jones Farm.
He is survived by his daughter, Glynn Steckler Below of Huntsville, Alabama; his granddaughter, Ally Below of Brooklyn, New York; his sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Norm Duncan of Hot Springs, Arkansas; and dear nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Chip; his wife, Kathy; and his sister, Sarah Steckler Caddell. His brother, Richard Steckler of Houston, Missouri, passed away just three days following Tom’s death.
A private graveside service with full military honors will be held at Pine Crest Cemetery in Mobile, Alabama, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care or Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.
