Nicholas Radosevich

Born September 21, 1917 in Lorain, OH, he was preceded in death by his parents; Alex and Karoline Nikatski Radosevich, Amherst, OH and brothers; George and Walter.

Survivors are Marilyn, his wife of 64 years, daughter Debra Jane Mitchell, brother Michael, Elyria, OH, sister Olga Franta, Lorain, OH, brother-in-law Dan (Jane) Shafer, Paulsbro, WA, sister-in-law Nancy (Lyle) Houser, Altamonte, TN and his beloved nieces and nephews.

A 1935 graduate of South Amherst High School, Nick took advantage of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) program during the Great Depression, and worked in Wyoming on the Devils Tower Monument. In 1940 he enlisted in the Army for a one-year term of duty that was frozen when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

He transferred to Army Air Corps and began cadet training. When commissioned, he was ordered to Boise, ID where his instructor pilot, 1st Lt. Jimmy Stewart, checked him out in the B-24 Liberator bomber. Nick's Crew, designated Crew 41, was assigned to 453rd Bomb Group, 753rd Squadron, 8th Air Force and stationed at Old Buckenham, East Anglia, England. Their plane, Lucky Penny I, was shot down while the crew was on R&R and replaced with Lucky Penny II.

At the end of 32 missions, two on D-Day, Jimmy Stewart picked them up in his jeep and told them that was their last mission. Nick became a B-29 instructor pilot in Great Bend, Kansas where the Enola Gay crew trained to deliver the atom bomb. Crew 41 began holding reunions in late 1980s, and all preceded him in death.

He enrolled at Ohio State University and received a BS, Physical Education in 1949. He had completed a Master's study program. He played on the 150 pound football team and golfed in OSU tournaments on the Scarlet Course. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Nick spent 20 years in Quality Control Inspection, North American Aviation (Boeing) and when aircraft industry went down, he was hired by the City of Columbus as a Community Development Revitalization Inspector until retiring to Englewood, Florida in 1980.

A very competitive athlete, he excelled at whatever he did, be it Golden Gloves boxing, bowling, basketball, baseball, he was in for it all. Nick loved winning at Poker and earned Duplicate Bridge Master Points. As a former member at York Temple CC, he competed in Columbus District Golf Association tournaments.

Nick was a 50-year member of University Lodge Chapter 631 Columbus, OH, a lifetime VFW member and American Legion Post 335 New Port Richey, FL.

The family thanks HPH Hospice, the VA, and Tina Hardy, CNA, for their care.

Memorial services will be at St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Hudson, date to be announced. Final interment will be in Nelsonville, OH.