CHESTER STUART TRUBIN was the second son of Red Bank businessman I. Jay Trubin and his wife Celia. His older brother, George L. Trubin of Yardley, PA, survives him.

The earliest documented recognition of Chet's unusual capabilities was his selection by his high school classmates as "Most Talented." The 1944 Red Bank High School yearbook is replete with Chet's participation in musical, artistic, and theatrical activities. But it was his performance as high school Drum Major that launched him to school and community prominence. He cut a dramatic and elegant figure, leading the band through its intricate halftime maneuvers at football games and on its triumphant marches down Red Bank's main street after victories. Prescient of his later parade uniform as a USMA cadet, he sported crossed white belts and a plumed shako, (the latter at a more rakish angle, however, than he would ever dare at West Point). The special flair for the dramatic that marked Chet's entire life was firmly rooted in his tenure as the drum major of the high school band.

After high school, Chet attended the Radio-Television Institute in New York City to prepare for a career in that field, but his professional direction changed sharply when he was nominated as a candidate for admission to West Point in July 1945.

Chet's keen intelligence was soon recognized at West Point by the award of academic stars. Unhesitatingly generous, he dedicated much of his time-a cadet's most precious commodity-to helping classmates less fortunate in academics.

Chet's special sense of humor emerged early. As a Yearling member of the Beast Detail, he attended an evening barracks meeting where other members of the detail were in starched white trou topped with a t-shirt. Chet, to everyone's amusement, arrived sporting dark glasses, a homemade turban, and smoking a Turkish waterpipe.

His penchant for the dramatic and romantic, and his love of the arts, initially emerging as a high school student, blossomed as a West Point cadet. Of the broad spectrum of his special interests and abilities-as documented by the long list of extra-curricular activities in the 49 Howitzer-fencing and musical activities were the most significant.

Judging it a historically appropriate sport for a military man, and undoubtedly attracted by its dramatic element, Chet began fencing seriously, eventually becoming the number one saber man on Coach Servando Jose Velarde's outstanding fencing team. He was one of the three members of the team who, in the spring of 1949, won West Point's first, and only, National Collegiate Athletic Association Fencing Championship. He was especially proud of the team's victory over Navy that earned him a Navy Star.

Chet was renowned for his success in attracting beautiful young women to West Point. He enjoyed being the gallant escort, and the ladies enjoyed his special style. His ability in painting led him to create portraits of those who interested him. Despite his great success with the ladies while at West Point, he remained a bachelor throughout his short life.

Chet' s interest in music was deep and varied. He knew and loved classical music, and just as importantly, enjoyed using his strong deep voice, both individually and in groups. Realizing the Jewish Chapel Squad was the only chapel without its own choir, he organized one, becoming its director and principal soloist. Gallantry of manner, knowledge of music, and excellence of voice led him to generously perform as soloist or best man at many of his classmates' weddings for years.

Upon graduation, Chet chose a career in the Air Force, with eyes fixed on becoming a fighter pilot. He first soloed in a T-6 at Randolph AFB, TX, and then qualified as a jet fighter pilot at the Fighter School at Williams AFB, AZ. As always, he learned well and rapidly, and helped fellow trainees through their difficulties. In the summer of 1950, he joined the U.S. forces in occupied Germany, assigned to the 526th Squadron of the 86th Fighter-Bomber Wing based at Neubiberg Air Base near Munich.

A fighter pilot who shared lodging with Chet recalls his fine deep voice, his whimsical smile and sense of humor, his social successes, his pipe as an important part of his elegant manners, and his frequent spirited fencing against a ghost opponent. He called Chet "a friend who gave me space, both mentally and spiritually."

On a training mission in an F-84 jet fighter, Chet reported a rough engine and partial loss of power, and his wingman reported puffs of black smoke exiting his tailpipe. Chet declared a minor emergency and, judging that he could reach his home base safely, turned toward it, detouring slightly to avoid flying over the densely populated center of Munich. As he was about to execute a tight right turn to descend to final approach to the runway, his wingman reported a long flame exiting his tail pipe. Chet shut down his engine and extinguished the fire, apparently reducing the power assist needed for controls in the tight turn, inevitably lengthening it. Losing altitude rapidly, he radioed the tower that he could not make the runway and would land in a cultivated field short of it. While turning slightly to avoid a tree, a wingtip tank touched the ground. The fighter turned a cartwheel and disintegrated. Chet died instantly
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Chester Stuart Trubin's death, just three years after graduation from West Point, abruptly ended a life rich with varied talents and unlimited promise. His broad intellect; intense interest in the arts; sense of gallantry and drama; and love of music, fencing, and beautiful women, cause many to remember Chet as a modern "Renaissance Man."
Those who knew him well are sure to agree the chant that regularly greeted the elegant high school drum major is a fitting epitaph, "Who's the guy who leads the band? That's our Chet. Yeah, man!"