Captain Cashmere, a Washington area resident since 1991, was a native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of what is now Wilkes University.

He served 28 years in the Navy, which included service during the Vietnam War aboard a destroyer at Yankee Station in the South China Sea.

In other assignments, the Legion of Merit recipient and graduate of the Naval War College commanded a destroyer, a mine squadron and the Naval Reserve Center in Avoca, Pennsylvania. He also was commanding officer of the naval operations staff at the Pentagon.

He retired from active duty in 1985 while serving in Philadelphia with the Naval Reserve Readiness Command, Region 4, which covers most of the northeastern United States.

Moving to the Washington area in 1991, he settled in Bethesda and worked as an independent financial adviser and planner. He also was an avid recreational boater who enjoyed outings on the Chesapeake Bay.

He was a member of the Baltimore-Washington U.S. Power Squadron, the Navy League and the Naval Reserve Association.

His wife, Jean Cashmere, died in 1988 after 29 years of marriage.

Survivors include three sons, David Cashmere of Pittsburgh and Douglas Cashmere and Brian Cashmere, both of Bethesda; and four grandsons.

Peacefully, on Friday, January 9, 2004, JOHN J. CASHMERE, age 69, died at his home in Bethesda, Maryland, with family by his bedside, Captain Cashmere is survived by his three sons, Douglas Cashmere and Brian Cashmere of Bethesda and David Cashmere of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and four grandsons, Andrew Cashmere, Jack Cashmere, Patrick Cashmere and Peter Cashmere. Captain Cashmere served 28 years in the Navy before retiring in 1985. His assignments included combat tours in Vietnam, various Pentagon tours and command of destroyers and minesweepers. A memorial service will be held at Fort Myer Old Post Chapel on Thursday, February 5, 2004 at 8:45 a.m. Interment will follow at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the American Diabetes Society or the charity of one's choice. The family is coordinating arrangements.