Obituary of John "Jack" Okonski

Okonski, John “Jack” Niskayuna, NY - John “Jack” Okonski, 89, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, Tuesday December 5, 2023 There was a young boy, Jack, who grew up in a small town not far from the capital of New York. His mother and father were the hard-working children of immigrants from Poland. The area he grew up in was, likewise full of other hard-working families from Poland, Italy and the Ukraine determined to make a better living for their families, and to celebrate God as their parents, and parent’s parents did. This young boy grew up surrounded by the love of family, and by friends during a time when the efforts of that hard work created a closeness and appreciation for the simple things in life. This environment helped mold him into the unique person that we have the fortune to know. Young Jack’s father, Ed, worked as a boilermaker repairing locomotives for the D & H Railroad in the 1930’s. It was hard, dirty work, but helped provide the family with a good living. He revered his father, and he would say he was the greatest man he ever knew. During World War II, the father put these skills to work at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The young man’s time in New York City during this period also influenced him in multiple ways. The war ended and the father had an opportunity with a partner to buy a vacant metal working business called Kelly Brother’s Boiler Works, in Troy, NY in the late 1940’s. The young man worked for his father during summers at this business when not in school. Speaking of school, young Jack’s proclivity for camaraderie with his peers made the choice of Christian Brother’s Academy (CBA) the perfect fit for his ever-developing character. He excelled there, including in sports, where he had a successful varsity football career. After graduation from CBA in 1951, the young graduate was set to work as a boilermaker at Troy Boiler Works as he was making good money there. His mother, Leona, wasn’t having that, and, without his knowledge, put in an application to Norwich University, a military college with a wonderful reputation and legacy. He excelled there…in numerous ways. Living through the dichotomy of being in a military school, but not being extremely fond of rules that did not make sense to him, he quickly racked up demerits, each of which generated an hour’s time marching outside, regardless of weather conditions. We were told that he still holds the title of “Demerit King.” His laugh developed during his stay at Norwich University. He enjoyed playing football at the University and graduated in 1955 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Reserves. The next significant benchmark in Jack’s early postgraduate career involved a job opportunity at Bethlehem Steel in Bethlehem, PA as part of the company’s management training program (Loop-course). This would chart the course for two people to fall in love for what was to be a 67-year romance and create many other destinies which would not otherwise have existed, as this love gave rise to 3 sons, 4 grandsons, a granddaughter, and a great-grandson. Jack met Rosemarie on a double date in which each was the date of another…Jack and Rosemarie hit it off and made a single date for a later time. It was almost as important that Rosemarie’s dad, Louis, liked Jack as well. Things went pretty well for Rosemarie and Jack, and on March 2nd, 1957, they were married. Jack and Rosemarie moved first to Potsdam, NY and then Catskill, NY. Their first child, John Jr, was born at Albany Memorial Hospital, followed two years later with the arrival of the twins, Louis and Richard, who were born in Catskill. The family then moved to Colonie, NY. During this time period, Jack worked at the Watervliet Arsenal in their design department, and with G.E.’s Nuclear Energy Reactor Vessel Manufacturing, before returning to Troy Boiler Works in 1967 to work alongside his beloved father, Ed. He was instrumental in growing the business. He handled equipment upgrades in a funny fashion. Jack’s father was old school and balked a little about spending money on new equipment, when the old equipment was “just fine.” Realizing that new equipment could provide faster, better capabilities in manufacturing, Jack would arrange for some major equipment to arrive while his father was vacationing in Florida. Jack would get a little chewing out when his dad came back, but deep down, you could tell how proud Ed was of his son because he showed customers and other visitors those same pieces of equipment. Jack was many things in his life; A Pop Warner football coach for a number of years in Colonie, a member of the NYS Boiler and Pressure Vessel Board of Examiners, a member of the Norwich University Board of Directors & “Partridge” Board, a successful business owner, a co-founder of Trojan Energy Systems and several other business ventures. He put family first and was very happy and proud to attend sporting and other events his grandchildren were involved with. He enjoyed numerous vacations around the globe with his wife, friends and family. He loved playing golf and was known for his unique golf swing on the course. He enjoyed good food, and good wine (especially Malbec’s and Carmenere’s), and he especially enjoyed the people he was with having a good time, family and friends. Those who have known him for a while will remember his engaging laugh, sense of humor, loyalty, and generosity. For those who will miss him most, foremost, his lovely wife Rosemarie, and the rest of his family, “Jack/Dad/Grampa, may the memories you have created with us stay vivid and full of meaning, and smiles, and laughs and tears, for the rest of our lives”. We love you “ so much-ski”! Jack spirit is carried on in love, by his wife Rosemarie, sons John (Danuta), Richard (Dawn) and Louis (Cynthia), grandchildren Dylan, Christopher (Claudia), Aimee, Ryan and Cody. He and the rest of the family were recently blessed with the arrival of Chris and Claudia’s child, great grandson Carter (8 ½ months). Viewing will be at Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish, 1803 Union Street, Schenectady, NY. Viewing times will be 8:30 AM to 10 AM on Saturday, December 16th. Mass will follow at 10 AM followed by the burial at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery at 2501 Troy-Schenectady Rd, Niskayuna. Friends and family are welcome to join us at Mohawk Golf Club at 1 PM to celebrate Jack’s life. Finally, we would like to thank the dedicated health-care professionals who provided care and comfort to Jack and his family, including members of St. Peter’s ALS Regional Center, Community Hospice, the private nurses/aids, Juline, Tina, Ara, Sandy and Seema, together with numerous doctors and other health-care professionals. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the ALS Association (www.als.org).