“Forever Loved, Never Forgotten”
The Navy Gold Star Program is eternally grateful for the sacrifice of those Service Members who have died in service to our country. To help us to never forget, we have set up this tribute page to honor and remember the memory of those lives. If you would like to honor the memory of your Sailor, Soldier, Marine, Airman or Coast Guardsman through the Navy Gold Star website please submit your thoughts and a photo.
Christopher Kalafut was born in Akron, OH, but considered Oceanside, CA, his hometown. He grew up in California with his parents and four brothers and attended El Camino High School prior to attending college at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, NY. In 1987, after college, Christopher joined the Navy and became an E2 pilot. "He always wanted to be a pilot when he grew up," said his wife, Mary. During his Navy career, Mary and Christopher welcomed five children, Marrion, Meaghan, Christopher, Keegan and Michael. During his free time, he enjoyed cycling and swimming as well as the family’s two Labrador retrievers, Kiki and Lala. Chris’s family remembers him as “Chris…God’s great gift to many!”