Tracy Monroe Kosoff

PORTSMOUTH ? Retired Navy Captain Tracy Monroe Kosoff, 66, of 78 Fischer Circle, Portsmouth, RI 02871, died Monday, March 10, 2003 at home, following a courageous four year battle with cancer. He was the husband of Shirley Hatfield Kosoff. They were married on December 9, 1962 at the United States Coast Guard Academy Chapel in New London, Connecticut. They have resided in Portsmouth since 1982.Born in Hoquiam, Washington on May 10, 1936, he was the son of the late Monroe M. and Eileen Mooney Kosoff. He graduated from Hoquiam High School in 1954. He received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland and was a member of the graduating Class of 1958.Captain Kosoff?s distinguished thirty-year naval career was dedicated to the submarine force. His first assignment in the Navy, after graduation from the Naval Academy was aboard the destroyer USS Higbee. In 1960, he was designated as a Qualified Submariner after completing training at the Naval Submarine School in Groton, Connecticut. He served aboard the USS Irex until 1962. In 1964, he became Weapons Officer for Submarine Squadron Two. He then reported to the Naval Submarine School Staff, serving as the Director of the Weapons Division until reporting to the USS Cusk in 1966. In 1968, he became Executive Officer of the USS Halfbeak until 1970 when he was assigned to the Operations and Plans Division of the Staff of the Commander Submarine Force of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. In 1972, Captain Kosoff assumed command of the USS Tigrone, a fleet submarine engaged in acoustical research. In 1974, he returned to the staff of Submarine School as Director of Advanced Tactics. In January 1975, he assumed command of the diesel attack submarine USS Clamagore until its decommissioning. Captain Kosoff was again assigned to Submarine School as the Director of the Security Assistance Training Department to develop and direct training and certification of a foreign submarine training program.In 1977, he became Chief Staff Officer and Operations Officer of Submarine Squadron Two, a command unit composed of 11 nuclear powered attack submarines, a nuclear powered research submarine and a submarine rescue ship. His additional duties as Command Foreign Training Officer and meritorious leadership resulted in the certification and transfer of two U.S. Navy diesel submarines to foreign governments. In 1981, Captain Kosoff reported to the Naval War College in Newport as a student. He graduated in 1982, receiving an Academic Masters Degree in the College of Naval Warfare. From 1982 to 1984 he served as Director of the Computer Systems Department at the Naval War College Center for War Gaming. He retired from active duty on June 30, 1984. He also received a Master of Science Degree in Management from Salve Regina University in 1984.Captain Kosoffs military awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with bronze star and the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation and other meritorious service citations.Following his retirement from the US Navy, he embarked on a second career in the defense contracting industry in the Newport area. He was associated with Ocean Technology Incorporated/Whittaker Corporation from 1984 until 1995, as a Program Manager and then becoming Branch Manager. For the past eight years, he has been a Program Manager with McLaughlin Research Corporation in Middletown.When his sons were young, he was actively involved in Cub Scouts, Youth Baseball Leagues and Youth Football Leagues, holding various volunteer leadership roles. An avid golfer, he was a member of Fall River Country Club, Fall River, Massachusetts. He was also a member of the Charity and Relief Lodge of Masons, Mystic, Connecticut and a member of the New London Chapter 58 National Sojourners, New London, Connecticut.In addition to his wife of forty-years, he leaves two sons and daughters-in-law, Monte T. and Lisa C. Kosoff of Portsmouth and Keith S. and Karen M. Kosoff of Portsmouth; four grandchildren, Arianna Lynn Kosoff, Aleksander Keith Kosoff, Mikaela Arianna Kosoff and Jenna Tracy Kosoff, all of Portsmouth. Two brothers also survive him, Larry R. Kosoff of Grapeview, Washington and Marshall H. Kosoff of Auburn, Washington. A funeral service in celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2003 at 2 p.m. in Trinity Episcopal Church, 1 Queen Anne Square, Newport, Rhode Island. A Committal Service will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 at 1 p.m. in Old Post Chapel, Fort Myer, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia followed by Interment with Full Military Honors in Arlington National Cemetery. Calling hours will be held in Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth on Friday, March 21, 2003 from 4-8 p.m. For information or directions: www.memorialfuneralhome.com. Donations in his memory may be made to The American Cancer Society, 222 Richmond Street, Suite 200, Providence, RI 02903.