Kara Fontenot, center, wife of fallen 104th Fighter Wing pilot Morris Fontenot, Jr., consoles her daughters Natalie and Nicole during a memorial gathering to honor her husband Saturday in Longmeadow. (Photos by Hope E. Tremblay)
LONGMEADOW – Hundreds gathered on the Town Green Saturday evening to pay their respects to a man who is a hero, a husband, a father, a friend and an Air Force legend.
Longmeadow resident Lt. Col. Morris “Moose” Fontenot, Jr. died in an accident last Wednesday morning when the F-15 fighter jet he was flying crashed in Virginia. A member of the 104th Fighter Wing, Fontenot was a career military pilot.
His death was confirmed Thursday and over the course of the next two days, the community came together to remember one of their own.
Members of the 104th Fighter Wing bow their heads as a prayer is said during a remembrance service to honor Morris Fontenot, Jr., a 104th pilot who died in a tragic accident last week. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
Fontenot’s wife Kara and teenage daughters Nicole and Natalie attended the gathering that celebrated his life.
“I am overwhelmed by how many people are here on such short notice,” said Kara. “My husband died doing what he loved – serving his country, flying F-15s, and being part of a band of brothers.”
She shared with the group of people that her 40th birthday was that day, and she decided to try to celebrate with her daughters by spending time together. They left their house in the morning and when they returned at 1 p.m. they were surprised to see that members of the 104th had completely re-landscaped their yard, carrying out plans Fontenot had made for his wife.
Lt. Col. Alexander Haldopoulos, Commander of the 104th Fighter Wing Operations, pauses as he remembers his friend, fallen F-15 pilot Morris Fontenot, Jr., during a memorial service in Longmeadow Saturday evening. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
“He mentioned that he wanted to plant 40 rose bushes for my 40th birthday,” she said. “And those men planted 40 rose bushes.”
The Fontenots have not lived in town long, but Kara said that when she saw all the people gathered to honor her husband and support her family, she knew Longmeadow was the right place to call home.
“We’ve moved our girls five times since they were born,” she said. “We left active duty Air Force for the Massachusetts Air National Guard so we could settle down in one place for high school.”
Daughter Nicole is starting Longmeadow High School this year as a freshman and Natalie is a sophomore.
Lt. Col. Alexander Haldopoulos, Commander of the 104th Operations Group at Barnes Air National Guard Base and a Longmeadow resident, told the group that Fontenot had only recently joined the guard.
In fact, Fontenot was known in the United States Air Force and beyond for his skills as a pilot.
(File photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
“When we heard he was joining the Air Guard it was like LeBron going to the Cavaliers ,” Haldopoulos joked.
Fontenot was an active duty airman for 17 years and with three years to go until retirement, he decided to switch gears and join the 104th.
“He became a Barnestormer,” he said. “He was a fighter pilot’s fighter pilot. He was a relationship builder.”
Haldopoulos said the most difficult thing he has had to do in his life was pull into the Fontenot driveway last Thursday afternoon to tell Kara the news that her husband would not be returning home.
Haldopoulos said he could not believe the strength she showed for her children at that moment.
“She is an amazing woman and her daughters are just like her,” he said .”We are lucky to have them in Longmeadow and the men and women of the 104th Fighter Wing will care for Kara and her girls – you can count on that.”
Fontenot will be laid to rest next month at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado.
