Terry Deitz in "Survivor: Panama - Exile Island"
Terry Deitz was born and raised in Matawan, New Jersey, by his mother, Peggy and father, George. Terry Deitz has three brothers, Mickey, Skip and Tommie, and one sister, Pegi.
Terry Deitz attended St. Joseph's Grammar School in Keyport, New Jersey, where he played little league baseball, football and basketball. Terry Deitz was also an avid swimmer and a member of the dive team. Terry Deitz then attended St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel, New Jersey, where he earned 11 Varsity letters in football (quarterback), baseball (catcher) and wrestling. He received All County and All Conference awards and made All-State Baseball 1st Team. In addition, Terry Deitz was Varsity Captain for three sports.
From 1978 to 1982, Terry Deitz attended the United States Naval Academy. While there, he played four years of Varsity Division I baseball. In 1982, Terry Deitz was ordered to the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier as a Ship's Officer in the Weapons Department, where he handled ship's defense systems. Terry Deitz was also Officer of the Deck qualified, which enabled him to run the ship for the Captain on a four-hour watch rotation.
In 1984, Terry Deitz was ordered to the US Navy flight school in Pensacola, Florida, where he learned to fly a Navy T-34 turbo prop. He earned jet grades and was sent to Meridian, Mississippi for T-2 and T-A4 advanced jet training. After Terry Deitz obtained his Navy wings, he was ordered to NAS Miramar in San Diego, California, for training in the F-14 Tomcat. In 1986, Terry Deitz began flying the F-14. In 1987, he was a pilot with the Fighter Squadron-51 (Miramar/Deployed on the USS Carl Vinson CVN-70).
Terry Deitz met his wife, Trish, six days before his last six-month cruise. They had three dates, and then he went away for six months. They eventually married on October 5, 1991.
From 1990-1992, Terry Deitz conducted shore duty as an F-14 Instructor pilot. In 1992, married life with family aspirations triggered his decision to leave the active duty Navy.
Terry Deitz was honorably discharged from active Navy and entered Navy reserve. He was then hired by American Airlines as a commercial pilot. In 1994, Terry Deitz and his family moved from San Diego to Simsbury, Connecticut to be able to fly out of New York and Boston. While employed as a commercial pilot, Terry Deitz was also hired by the Naval Reserve Logistics Squadron-52 where he flew the DC-9 worldwide out of the Navy air station in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. He was later promoted to Commander and eventually retired in April 2001.
Terry Deitz presently resides in Simsbury, Connecticut with Trish and their children, Kayla and Daniel. He continues to fly with American Airlines, piloting the Airbus A300. Terry Deitz's birth date is October 10, 1959.