Scattered within the Castle Pines communities are more than a few unsung heroes. Veterans Day on November 11 is an ideal time to shed some light on a remarkable man whose selfless concept of service was forged by our United States Marine Corps and its motto: “Semper Fidelis,” meaning “Always Faithful.”

Craig Sundquist could serve as a model for a Marine poster today. Though now an octogenarian, he proudly dons the uniform every Wednesday, standing tall and proud for official functions, part of the honor guard for burial events at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

Born in Stephenson (population 816) in the upper peninsula (UP) of Michigan, Craig was an early achiever, his athletic medals still gracing the halls of his high school. “Yoopers,” as these UP inhabitants are called, may lead a relatively sheltered life. The turbulent late 1960s produced a man who brimmed with a full measure of patriotism. So disposed, Craig enlisted. In 1967, he was sent to Vietnam and was in the line of action in Hue during the Tet Offensive of January 1968.

War tends to sober one’s outlook. Craig came back with a clearer concept of service and a personal fiber the equivalent of tempered steel. His next step was the Michigan State Police where he served as a state trooper in the Detroit area. He then moved to California to earn a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

Later, Craig worked for Lockheed Martin as a director of security at one of its defense subsidiaries. Being a stickler for detail and with a personal penchant for industrial safety, Craig later thrived in another professional niche, evaluating safety risks at large plants all over the United States.

In the early 1970s, Craig met and married Jackie Downard. Now, 53 years later, the couple is living large in retirement. They have a daughter Whitney, son-in-law Ron and grandson Derrick.

Craig and Jackie moved to The Village at Castle Pines from California in 2004. They travel extensively both in the States and overseas. Both have voracious reading habits; Craig’s focuses on war and the military while Jackie favors whodunits. Though modest about his golfing prowess, Craig routinely shoots in the 80s.

The community has benefited greatly by Craig’s selflessness and his quiet but firm leadership. Having served on governing boards, multiple committees and a myriad of positions for golf tournaments, Craig also has great pride in his long service to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Over several decades, Craig and others in the local chapter have raised millions of tuition dollars for children of Marines and Navy corpsmen.

A stalwart but soft-spoken man, Craig lives by rigorous standards learned early. His personal mottos are: “Always do what’s right even when no one is watching” and “One has to have something to do, something to look forward to and someone to love;” oh, and “Semper Fi.”

 

Article by Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of Craig Sundquist