Father of Florida Senator Jeff Atwater
a veteran World War II fighter pilot and celebrated FBI agent who later became Police Chief of the Village of North Palm Beach.
John Stafford Atwater, 77, died Aug. 24, 2001, at his home, following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born in St. Augustine, the son of John G. and Celeste Brown Atwater, and in 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a P-51 fighter pilot, escorting heavy bombers over France and Germany during World War II. He was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, earning a business degree, and he attained a letter on the Note Dame boxing team. He served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 28 years as a special agent and received more than 20 letters of commendation from J. Edgar Hoover. In the early 1970s, he played a leadership role in solving the South Florida Barbara Mackle kidnapping case. In addition, he focused on federal white collar cases, high profile kidnappings, espionage and interstate theft. Noted for excelling in marksmanship, he spent hundreds of hours instructing police officers and special forces in firearms. He also earned a perfect record for negotiating peaceful resolutions.
Upon his retirement from the FBI in 1978, he became the public safety director of the Village of North Palm Beach, overseeing the police, fire and emergency medical operations. He retired from that post in 1988, but was called back to police work in 1998 for about a year. He was an active force in the Association of Retired FBI Agents and Chiefs of Police throughout Palm Beach County, and he was honored as the Notre Dame Alumnus of the Year in 1990.
He was a longtime supporter of Native American Children, and he was a member of St. Clare's Catholic church.
a police motorcade to Sebring was planned, with graveside services in Sebring at Pinecrest Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Patricia; three sons, Dr. Mike Atwater, Lt. Col. Douglas Atwater, Senator Jeff Atwater; three daughters, Enid Atwater, Barbara Jeanne Atwater and Patti Unruh; one brother, Julian Atwater; and nine grandchildren.
a veteran World War II fighter pilot and celebrated FBI agent who later became Police Chief of the Village of North Palm Beach.
John Stafford Atwater, 77, died Aug. 24, 2001, at his home, following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born in St. Augustine, the son of John G. and Celeste Brown Atwater, and in 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a P-51 fighter pilot, escorting heavy bombers over France and Germany during World War II. He was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, earning a business degree, and he attained a letter on the Note Dame boxing team. He served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 28 years as a special agent and received more than 20 letters of commendation from J. Edgar Hoover. In the early 1970s, he played a leadership role in solving the South Florida Barbara Mackle kidnapping case. In addition, he focused on federal white collar cases, high profile kidnappings, espionage and interstate theft. Noted for excelling in marksmanship, he spent hundreds of hours instructing police officers and special forces in firearms. He also earned a perfect record for negotiating peaceful resolutions.
Upon his retirement from the FBI in 1978, he became the public safety director of the Village of North Palm Beach, overseeing the police, fire and emergency medical operations. He retired from that post in 1988, but was called back to police work in 1998 for about a year. He was an active force in the Association of Retired FBI Agents and Chiefs of Police throughout Palm Beach County, and he was honored as the Notre Dame Alumnus of the Year in 1990.
He was a longtime supporter of Native American Children, and he was a member of St. Clare's Catholic church.
a police motorcade to Sebring was planned, with graveside services in Sebring at Pinecrest Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Patricia; three sons, Dr. Mike Atwater, Lt. Col. Douglas Atwater, Senator Jeff Atwater; three daughters, Enid Atwater, Barbara Jeanne Atwater and Patti Unruh; one brother, Julian Atwater; and nine grandchildren.
Father of Florida Senator Jeff Atwater
a veteran World War II fighter pilot and celebrated FBI agent who later became Police Chief of the Village of North Palm Beach.
John Stafford Atwater, 77, died Aug. 24, 2001, at his home, following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born in St. Augustine, the son of John G. and Celeste Brown Atwater, and in 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a P-51 fighter pilot, escorting heavy bombers over France and Germany during World War II. He was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, earning a business degree, and he attained a letter on the Note Dame boxing team. He served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 28 years as a special agent and received more than 20 letters of commendation from J. Edgar Hoover. In the early 1970s, he played a leadership role in solving the South Florida Barbara Mackle kidnapping case. In addition, he focused on federal white collar cases, high profile kidnappings, espionage and interstate theft. Noted for excelling in marksmanship, he spent hundreds of hours instructing police officers and special forces in firearms. He also earned a perfect record for negotiating peaceful resolutions.
Upon his retirement from the FBI in 1978, he became the public safety director of the Village of North Palm Beach, overseeing the police, fire and emergency medical operations. He retired from that post in 1988, but was called back to police work in 1998 for about a year. He was an active force in the Association of Retired FBI Agents and Chiefs of Police throughout Palm Beach County, and he was honored as the Notre Dame Alumnus of the Year in 1990.
He was a longtime supporter of Native American Children, and he was a member of St. Clare's Catholic church.
a police motorcade to Sebring was planned, with graveside services in Sebring at Pinecrest Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Patricia; three sons, Dr. Mike Atwater, Lt. Col. Douglas Atwater, Senator Jeff Atwater; three daughters, Enid Atwater, Barbara Jeanne Atwater and Patti Unruh; one brother, Julian Atwater; and nine grandchildren.
a veteran World War II fighter pilot and celebrated FBI agent who later became Police Chief of the Village of North Palm Beach.
John Stafford Atwater, 77, died Aug. 24, 2001, at his home, following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born in St. Augustine, the son of John G. and Celeste Brown Atwater, and in 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a P-51 fighter pilot, escorting heavy bombers over France and Germany during World War II. He was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, earning a business degree, and he attained a letter on the Note Dame boxing team. He served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 28 years as a special agent and received more than 20 letters of commendation from J. Edgar Hoover. In the early 1970s, he played a leadership role in solving the South Florida Barbara Mackle kidnapping case. In addition, he focused on federal white collar cases, high profile kidnappings, espionage and interstate theft. Noted for excelling in marksmanship, he spent hundreds of hours instructing police officers and special forces in firearms. He also earned a perfect record for negotiating peaceful resolutions.
Upon his retirement from the FBI in 1978, he became the public safety director of the Village of North Palm Beach, overseeing the police, fire and emergency medical operations. He retired from that post in 1988, but was called back to police work in 1998 for about a year. He was an active force in the Association of Retired FBI Agents and Chiefs of Police throughout Palm Beach County, and he was honored as the Notre Dame Alumnus of the Year in 1990.
He was a longtime supporter of Native American Children, and he was a member of St. Clare's Catholic church.
a police motorcade to Sebring was planned, with graveside services in Sebring at Pinecrest Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Patricia; three sons, Dr. Mike Atwater, Lt. Col. Douglas Atwater, Senator Jeff Atwater; three daughters, Enid Atwater, Barbara Jeanne Atwater and Patti Unruh; one brother, Julian Atwater; and nine grandchildren.
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