"After the Naval Academy, he could have joined the Navy or the Marines, and he did the right thing," Richard Klokow said with a proud laugh.

His son, Patrick, 29--a Marine captain and Sunnyvale native--served in Kuwait and Iraq in 2003 and had recently been promoted to commanding officer of the instructional training company of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot when he was killed Aug. 23 in a hit-and-run accident on a San Diego road. He was riding his bike.

In addition to his Marine duties, Klokow was an avid triathlete. He'd become a strong swimmer during his time at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

"He once swam from Alcatraz to the shore, which amazed me because he couldn't swim across a pool as a kid," Richard Klokow said.

Working as a team and leading by example were always part of Klokow's life. He earned an "Ironman" award from the Homestead baseball team for catching every practice and game for the team. He was the captain of the Navy's baseball team in 1999.

"As a Marine officer, his first concern was always the people working with him," his father said.

It was at the Naval Academy that Klokow met his wife, a helicopter pilot who was flying missions overseas when she received word of her husband's death.

According to San Diego detectives, Klokow was struck by Jose Luis Cifuentes, 58, who later confessed to hitting the Marine and driving off.

Klokow was left in the road to die.

"I think we've got so much grief in our hearts right now that it's hard to feel anger towards the guy," Richard Klokow said. "None of it can being Patrick back."

Cifuentes was initially pulled over near the accident site with the front end of his car damaged. He originally claimed lumber falling from a truck had caused the damage.

Klokow will be buried in Annapolis in a full military ceremony. Because he was in artillery, large howitzer guns will be fired off in his honor.

'It's a little far from us, but it's a place that we visited often for baseball games and other events, and we have a number of fond memories from there," Richard said. "This has all been difficult, but we've had a lot of support from the Marine Corps and his friends," Klokow said.

Anyone interested in making contributions for a memorial stone and scholarship at Homestead High can send them to Nancy Baffern, Homestead High School, 21370 Homestead Road, Cupertino, CA 95014.

Donations can also be sent to Kathy Keehan, Executive Director, San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, P.O. Box 34544, San Diego, CA 92163