Pittsfield- Lieutenant Commander (Ret.) Darold P. Greene, 78, died Tuesday, September 5, 2017 at the Springside Nursing & Rehabilitation Center after complications of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Darold was born in Grand Junction, Colorado, the son of the late Clarence A. and Esther L. (Price) Greene. He was a 1957 graduate of Grand Junction High School, and a 1959 graduate of Mesa Jr. College. Darold then went on to begin his naval career in the fall of 1959 where he was sworn in as a Naval Reserve Officer Training Candidate at the University of Texas at Austin. In Feb. of 1960 he entered boot camp in San Diego, CA and was assigned the position of RCPO for his company. He graduated in May 1960 as a Seaman Apprentice.

Following boot camp, Darold was assigned to Treasure Island, CA where he attended Class A & C Schools for Electronics Technician. He graduated as an ET Radar Striker Seaman Apprentice.

In January 1961, he was sent to Groton, CT for Basic Submarine School, and graduated in March.  His first sea assignment was to USS COBBLER (SS-344) out of Submarine Squadron Six in Norfolk, VA. Here he served in the Seaman gang for the next eight months where he qualified in submarines and was advanced to ETR3(SS). Returning to Groton in Jan. 1962, he began the six month Basic Nuclear Power School where he graduated as ETR2(SS). It was then on to prototype training at the S1C facility in Windsor Locks, CT where he served first as student, then as instructor, until Apr. 1963. Following training at Westinghouse in McKeesport, PA, he reported to the USS JOHN C. CALHOUN (SSBN630), Blue crew at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock in May on 1963. He was just in time to catch the launching and was fortunate enough to ride her down the ways. He was onboard CALHOUN until Aug. 1964, where he accepted the NESEP commissioning program.

He attended the Navy Preparatory School in Bainbridge, MD before transferring to the University of Texas in Austin. Darold graduated May 1967 with his Bachelor of Engineering Science Degree with a Nuclear Option.

His next assignment was to the four month long Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as Ensign. In Oct. 1967, Darold reported to the USS SABLEFISH (SS-303) at New London for his first tour as an Officer. He was assigned as First Lieutenant and served until Jan. 1968. He then attended Officer Submarine School, then in Aug. it was off to Dam Neck, VA for the Polaris Weapons Officer Course. In Nov. 1968 he reported to USS ETHAN ALLEN (SSBN 608), Blue Crew for a two year tour as Assistant Weapons Officer. He was promoted to LTJG during this tour. In Nov. 1970, he was promoted to Lieutenant and transferred back to Dam Neck where he served as an officer instructor. In Nov. 1972, he returned to sea duty; this time to USS HENRY CLAY (SSBN 625) Blue crew out of Pearl Harbor, HI where he served as a Weapons officer. The staff of Submariner Squadron Fifteen was Darold’s assignment beginning in Nov. 1974 where he served as staff Weapons Officer. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander during this tour. Darold was transferred to USS TROUT (SS566) in San Diego as the Navigation and Operations department head. During this tour, the boat transited the Panama Canal to overhaul in Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Darold also served as Executive Officer during this tour. In 1978, he was assigned to USS OAKRIDGE (ARDM-1) as the Commanding Officer in Squadron Sixteen out of Rota, Spain. In July 1980, OAKRIDEGE and CSS16 transferred to Submarine Base, Kings Bay, Georgia.

In March of 1981, Darold was transferred to the Naval Plant Management Office at GE where he served as the Executive Officer/Technical Officer until his retirement in 1984. In November of 2004, he retired for a second time from General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems.

Darold’s military medals and awards include: Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (2 Awards), Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation (2 Awards), Battle “E”, Good Conduct (2 Awards), Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal (2 Awards), and the Sea Service Ribbon.

Darold married his wife of 54 years, the former Mary Elizabeth Tarbox, on March 31, 1963 at the Immaculate Conception Church of Newburyport, MA. He was a great handyman who could fix anything, and was always ready to help the neighbors or anyone else who may have asked. Darold was committed to his work with Habitat for Humanity and the reStore. He was also a US Navy League member and a National High School Academic Decathlon volunteer for many years. He loved to do woodworking, was quite fond of golf, and was an avid Boston Red Sox and University of Texas Longhorns fan.

Mr. Greene is survived by his wife, Mary Greene of Pittsfield, their three children, Laurie Ann Shuttleworth and her husband Steve of North Adams, and Paula Marie Kostyun and her husband Michael of Pittsfield, and Eric Price Greene and his soulmate Tonya Courtney of Pittsfield, his granddaughter, Emma Rose Kostyun, and his great granddaughter, Isabelle Davis. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Frances Reslewic of FL, and Kathleen Baker and her husband Alan of FL, his brothers-in-law, Harold Tarbox and his wife Barbara of CT, Robert Rose of NH, Ron Miller of CO, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was predeceased by his parents, by his two sisters, Roberta Miller and Rosemary Power, his sister-in-law Eleanor Rose and his brother-in-law Henry Reslewic. 

SERVICES: Greene, Darold P., 78, died Sept. 5th. Calling Hours at the DEVANNY-CONDRON FUNERAL HOME will be Saturday, September 9th from 12-3PM with Funeral Services with Full Military Honors beginning at 3PM. Scattering At Sea will be at a later date.

In Lieu of Flowers, memorial donations in Darold’s memory may be made to Soldier On, The Navy-Marine Corps. Relief Society or the Alzheimer’s Association- MA/NH Chapter,  in care of the Funeral Home.

 Service Information