John Chernosky with his wife Etta Mae in photo taking during WWII.

After almost causing a fender-bender, John EdwardChernosky disarmed the angry driver by complimenting him and saying, "Those were great evasive moves!" According to his family, "that was John" - always lifting the mood.

Mr. Chernosky, a 50 year resident of West Babylon, passed away at his home on September 16, 2004 at age 85.

Mr. Chernosky was born August 14th, 1919, in New Britain, Connecticut and was raised in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. He was a first generation American, the son of immigrants from Russian Poland, Michael Czarniecki and Martha Tarnowska.

During World War II, he served in a heavy weapons unit of the U.S. Army before transferring to the U.S. Air Corp where he was trained as a navigator and shipped to Chelveston, England to serve as a 2nd Lieutenant on a B-17 Flying Fortress.

On his 17th bombing mission on a run over Leipzig, Germany, Mr. Chernosky’s plane was disabled and he parachuted out, but landed safely in a tree on a farm in Belgium. He was picked up by a family who ultimately transferred him to the Comete line of the Belgian underground for safety. He remained there for seven months under the special care of Madame Anne Brusselmans, a brave woman who protected at least a hundred Allied soldiers during the war and whose daughter Yvonne Daley Brusselmans resides in the U.S. today. Mr. Chernosky’s family said that his fun-loving and gregarious nature could not be quieted down for any length of time and made him a particular problem for the Comete line which hid soldiers in basements and moved them from house to house. In 1957 Madame Brusselmans, along with Mr. Chernosky and several other airmen, appeared on "What’s My Line" with Gary Moore.

Mr. Chernosky received an Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and a Presidential Unit Citation for his service.

After the war, Mr. Chernosky returned to Houston, Texas and married Etta Mae Fry whom he met on a blind date while training as a cadet at Ellington Airfield there. They were married October 24th, 1944 at St. Anne’s Church and would have celebrated their 60th anniversary this year. They moved to West Babylon in 1954 and lived in the same house for 50 years.

Mr. Chernosky was President and co-founder with his friend and partner, James F. Nelson of Atlas Die-Casting in Farmingdale. Together, they built Atlas from a one-machine shop into a thriving business which still operates today.

Mr. Chernosky was an active supporter of Little League baseball and served as an umpire for 20 years. He is remembered for taking all the neighborhood kids to see the Mets play opening day games. He enjoyed bowling and frequented Werner’s Bowling Alley where he competed in a league and where he helped to initiate Little League Bowling. He was a member of Our Lady of Grace R.C. Church in West Babylon, working on casino nights and supporting the Outreach program for many years.

Mr. Chernosky enjoyed card games, and after retirement he played and taught bridge at many senior citizen centers and libraries, including West Babylon and Copiague libraries. He was past-president of the Young at Hearts Club, a senior group, and helped organize activities and bus tours for the members. He was also a member of the Escapers and Evaders Society, commonly known as AFEES, a group composed of soldiers who evaded capture after being shot down.

According to his daughter, Mr. Chernosky was generous and supportive of family and friends and never turned down a request for assistance. She said he was a naturally relaxed and loving person who always looked on the sunny side. His upbeat and funny personality made him a joy to be around, said his daughter. She added that he had a special affinity for children and never tired of inventing endless games for their amusement.

Mr. Chernosky is survived by his wife Etta M. Chernosky; daughter Gail and son-in-law Richard from Ashford, Connecticut; and two sisters, Vera Masly of Las Vegas, Nevada and Helen Kowalski of Atlanta, Georgia. Also surviving is a granddaughter, Jessica Anne Hyde, and many nieces and nephews.

He reposed at the Claude R. Boyd-Spencer Funeral Home, 448 West Main Street, Babylon. He was buried with military honors at Calverton National Cemetery, September 20, 2004.