Growing up in Oak Harbor shaped Rear Adm. Bob Passmore, wooing him at an early age with the promises of future adventures serving his country.

Passmore, who will retire Oct. 1 from the Navy after 35 years of dutiful service, spent 18 years in Oak Harbor, graduating from Oak Harbor High School in 1967. As his formative years built momentum, he never forgot the calling that was bestowed upon him in grade school.

“I used to go to the beach, usually with my best friends at the time, Mel Elvebak and Keith Hoffman,” Passmore remembered. “In addition to building rafts, fishing and skipping rocks, I loved watching the seaplanes come in and out. That’s when I first knew that I wanted to fly in the Navy.”

And fly he did. The highly decorated sailor is now a captain with United Airlines.

Before taking to the sky, however, Passmore caught a glimpse of the world outside Whidbey Island through contact with his friends in junior high and high school, many of whom were Navy dependents.

“They had been so many places, and I hadn’t been anywhere,” the 59-year-old pilot said. “While I loved growing up in Oak Harbor, fishing and hunting with my dad and our friends, traveling to other places seemed like a great idea. I always thought I’d move back to Oak Harbor someday, it truly was a wonderful place to grow up.”

Naval service brought the Wildcat back to his old stomping grounds, where he served for a total of 12 years. Although he and his wife, Janet, have lived in Mill Creek since 1985, the memories of athletic dominance at Oak Harbor High School are vivid.

“We had a fantastic group of athletes and a wide diversity of talent,” Passmore said. “I will always remember our coaches, in my case McGillivray for football and wrestling and Clint West for baseball. They were terrific! We were highly ranked in state for all three sports.”

What Passmore lacked in strength and speed, he made up for in the company he kept.

“The other guys were bigger, stronger and faster, but I got to play too, and it was a blast,” he said. “They made all of us look good.”

Flashing back a few years, junior high was not the heyday of high school. But it was unique and memorable, if not a tad stressful. Passmore was under the microscope.

“Junior high was probably my most challenging years; Dad was the principal,” he said. “If it hadn’t been for sports it would have been a lot tougher. Of course, all the teachers there and in high school knew Dad and me pretty well, so when I got in trouble, I usually got in trouble twice, once at school and once at home. Fortunately, thanks to having a good group of buddies, I never got in too much trouble.”

Passmore’s parents, Robert and Gay Passmore, lived in Oak Harbor until they passed away.

The lasting relationships Passmore formed in Oak Harbor took on new faces when he entered the Navy. The rear admiral said he cannot fathom why anyone would not want to join his chosen branch of the military.

“The sad part is that 72 percent of our youth today don’t even qualify for naval service,” he lamented. “But for those who do, there is no experience like it. The camaraderie is what I enjoy the most. The experiences and challenges, the travel, the pride in service, and the incredible learning opportunities also add to my love of the Navy. I can’t think of a more rewarding and fulfilling career; it truly has been a 35-year adventure.”

Passmore humbly credited his wife with his development as a sailor and a person. The couple met while attending the University of Washington. He refers to her as “the ultimate partner in our journey.”

“She has done as much as anyone I know supporting Navy families and sailors, making their lives better,” he said. “Without Janet, my career would not have been possible.”

Their two grown sons, Brett and Derek, were remarkably patient as they bounced around from place to place as children and young adults. The brothers attended junior high and high school in the Everett School District.

“They have always been supportive, even when they weren’t excited about moving and having to make new friends again,” Passmore said. “Obviously, we are proud of them and all they have accomplished.”

Following in his father’s footsteps, Brett is a pilot with Air Wisconsin, living in Virginia, and Derek is a director with the Lake Las Vegas Ritz Carlton.

Passmore is quick to deflect personal praise. Instead, he is effusively grateful for the opportunity he has been given to serve his country. He said America needs patriots who can place ideals and service above themselves as the nation fights a war for survival.

“Islamic fascism will destroy us and our democracy if not enough citizens step forward,” he said candidly. “The negative image portrayed by some of our media of what our military is like, is truly destructive. I have never worked with a finer group of people. Everyday our sailors live up to our code of ‘honor, courage, and commitment.’ I have been extremely proud to be one of them.”

Reflecting on the past 35 years, the rear admiral can honestly say that he would not change a thing. He found his niche in the Navy and has gleaned from his experiences attributes that will serve him well into retirement.

“I have no regrets in the choices we have made, but I have to say I would love to do it all over again,” he said. “We, Janet, the boys, and I, have been truly blessed. I can’t imagine a more enjoyable and rewarding life.”