Jane Paradeis was a 1981 graduate of Royalton High School where she excelled in athletics, academics, and music. Jane graduated second in her class, and throughout her high school career, she earned letters in basketball, cross country, and baseball. However, her true athletic love was softball.

 

In 1981, Royalton High School did not have a girls’ softball program, so Jane decided to try and earn a spot on the boy’s high school baseball team. She was quite successful, earning a starting position on the varsity team all four years of high school and consequently lettering all four years. Jane’s accomplishments and activities extended far beyond the diamond and the playing court. She was a class officer, involved in Letterman’s Club, school newspaper, band, choir, drama, National Honor Society, 4-H, and voted by her classmates as most witty and clever.

 

Following graduation from Royalton High School, she attended Moorhead State University where she began studies majoring in Electrical Engineering. Jane played softball for the Moorhead State Dragons for a year and then transferred to the University of Minnesota, where she was a walk-on to the softball team and played softball for the Golden Gophers for one year. Jane graduated from the University of MN in 1986 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.

 

Upon graduation from the University of Minnesota, Jane accepted a commission with the United States Navy and entered Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS). She trained and flew the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter. In August of 1989 Jane was promoted to Lieutenant while on tour in the Red Sea. In January 1990, Jane was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal. This award is given for meritorious service based on sustained performance or special achievement of a superlative nature. Jane’s life was cut short when her CH-46 crashed on June 22, 1990 six miles off the Virginia coast. She, along with three other crew men, perished that day. However, her love for life, her competitiveness, and her commitment to God and country remain in those she left behind. In honor of Jane, the Naval Air Station at Norfolk dedicated their main softball field as Paradeis Field in her memory.