Forever Serving

“Live In The Moment. · Be A Good Person. · Care About People And Make Them Better.”

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These are the defining values and principles of three U.S. Naval Academy alumni lost in the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon.

Shipmate spoke with a widow, a nephew and a best friend of alumni killed during the terrorist attack on the Pentagon. Devora Kirschner, First Lieutenant Andrew Jonas “AJ” Panik ’22, USMC, and Rear Admiral Dave Thomas ’81, USN (Ret.), shared their memories and the legacies that made Lieutenant Darin Pontell ’98, USN, Lieutenant Jonas Panik ’97, USNR, and Captain Bob Dolan ’81, USN, such extraordinary people.

Their legacies live on in those who carry their names and stories forward. To complement this story, we produced videos of each interview, which can be found by scanning this QR code.

We mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy by remembering lost alumni.

We Will Never Forget.

Live in the Moment

Devora Kirschner, widow of Lieutenant Darin Pontell ’98, USN

Darin Pontell lived regret-free. He was a conscientious and dedicated Navy officer who worked hard. But, he was equally committed to his family, friends and fun.

Devora Kirschner said Darin taught her not to leave anything on the table. They never missed chances to say “I love you,” or to go out with friends and co-workers.

If a friend needed help moving, Darin was the first volunteer. Headed to hear live music? Darin was pulling Devora and their friends to the venue.

“Darin was just happy and lived life to the fullest,” Devora said. “It was all about getting people involved and making people smile. He just wanted everyone around him to be happy. He just wanted to help people.

“That’s what I hope everybody else gets from him. It’s not about medals. It’s not about awards. It’s not about someone telling you you did a great job. It’s about how people think you treat them and what you do for others. Being a good person and being that go-to person.”

Devora said her time with Darin was filled with joy, not what ifs.

“We had a great time and it was cut short,” she said. “But there’s nothing I think now that we should have done. We just did it. We lived life, enjoyed and appreciated every minute.”

Good Guy Award

Devora Kirschner, widow of Lieutenant Darin Pontell ’98, USN, partners with the Friends of the Jewish Chapel at the U.S. Naval Academy to honor a graduating midshipman.

Each year at the Jewish Baccalaureate, a sword is awarded to a graduating midshipman who most embodies Pontell’s qualities. Kirschner said the award recognizes someone who puts others first.

“It’s for the person who was just there for everybody else, that good guy who wants to help and wants to be there, and is the person you can depend on when you need it,” she said.

This year, Ensign Sam Zimmerman ’26, USN, was awarded the LT Darin Pontell Memorial Sword. Zimmerman commissioned into the intelligence community and the award honors Pontell, an intelligence officer who was killed in the Pentagon on 9/11. The sword was presented as part of the Baccalaureate with Darin’s mother, Marilyn Pontell, and Devora’s parents, Herbert and Betsy Wolk, in attendance.

Care About People and Make Them Better

First Lieutenant Andrew Jonas “AJ” Panik ’22, USMC, nephew and godson of Lieutenant Jonas Panik ’97, USNR

AJ Panik was almost 2 years old when his uncle was killed at the Pentagon. He learned a lot about Jonas from his family and maybe just as much from the Class of 1997.

Jonas’ classmates made AJ one of their own, providing guidance and support during his journey to and through the Naval Academy with the Class of 2022. AJ said he tries to model his uncle’s character and live up to those standards.

While Jonas was lost on 9/11, his death is not what defined him, AJ said.

“The thing that defined him is who he was as a person—the values he had, the love he had for people, the amount he cared, the compassion and the empathy,” said AJ who proudly carries his uncle’s name.

The more AJ learned about his uncle, the more familiar the refrain became.

“He’s a gentle giant,” AJ said. “He’s humble. He’s always emulating excellence without showing arrogance—actually caring about the people around him and making them better. That’s what defines character to me. It’s not just one person’s perception but that everyone remembers the same perception.”

Be a Good Person

Rear Admiral Dave Thomas ’81, USN (Ret.), best friend of Captain Bob Dolan ’81, USN

Dave Thomas and Bob Dolan were roommates starting on their I-Day at the Naval Academy. They were best friends whose individual strengths complemented each other’s weaknesses.

Dolan and Thomas shared values, and the love of their families, athletics, music and fly fishing. They were pranksters and schemers who manifested an incredible experience.

They envisioned fly fishing for wild brook trout in a snowstorm. While students at National Defense University, Bob at the War College and Dave at the Eisenhower School, they made an excursion to the South Hazel River in Virginia. They caught wild brookies in a snowstorm.

“We had a dream,” Thomas said. “We connected with each other. We made it happen.”

In 2001, Thomas and Dolan were stationed at the Pentagon. They met every day between 9 and 10 a.m. for coffee to catch up.

When the Pentagon was attacked, Thomas sprung to action. He identified an escape route and helped colleagues find the exit. His search for survivors pulled him to the first floor of D Ring where Dolan’s office was and where Flight 77 struck the Pentagon.

For his actions that day, which included helping free a man pinned to his chair by debris, Thomas was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. During a visit to the Pentagon Memorial in July 2026, Thomas recounted a list he and Dolan compiled about the types of leaders they wanted to be.

“Work hard. Do your best, make the team strong. And if you forget all that stuff, be a good person,” Thomas said.

Dolan was buried at sea. His classmate and best friend, Thomas, has the coordinates and plans to be laid to rest at the same site. ⚓