Edward Sozanski

EDWARD SOZANSKI, age 95, of Avalon, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 23,2019. He was the husband of seventy years to Dolores Sozanski who preceded him in death; loving father of Barbara A. Maclver and her husband Gregory of Dublin, Ohio, Carol L. Smith and her husband Gregory of Jacobsburg, Ohio, and Robert E. Sozanski and his wife Linda of Bellevue; proud Grandfather of Kristi Markins (Michael), Christine Hickey (Ben), Amy Geiger (Tony), Beth Bocci (Brian), Michelle Bevan, and Kelsey Sozanski; and Great-Grandfather of A.J. Geiger, Ava Geiger, Giuliana Hickey, and Emma Nicole Bevan; brother of William (deceased), Robert, and Lorraine Hoover.

Ed was proud of his family, for whom he spent his working years employed as a skilled machinist in the power piping industry with National Valve and Manufacturing Company. ln his retirement he greatly enjoyed gardening, camping, fishing, boating, travelling to visit family, watching the Pittsburgh Penguins, and especially interacting with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

As part of the "The Greatest Generation", he volunteered for service during World War ll, enlisting on November 7,1942, in what was then known as the Army Air Force, and was trained as an aerial engineer and gunner for the 15th Air Force, 376th Bomb Group, 515th

Bomb Squadron. Based in North Africa, he saw active service in the air war in Europe, Central Europe and the Balkans, until his B-24 was shot down over ltaly on December 26, 1943. After spending five weeks in a hospital in German-occupied Verona, recovering from burns and other injuries, he was detained in several German prisoner of war camps, including Dulag Luft (Frankfort), Stalag Luft Vl (Heydekrug), Stalag Luft lV (Gross Tychow), Stalag Luft lll (Sagan), Nuremburg, and Stalag Luft VllA (Mooseburg), until his liberation on April 15, 1945. During his imprisonment, he was one of thousands who endured the atrocities of the often-forgotten "Black March", a several hundred mile forced march of Allied POW's zig-zagging across East-Central Europe during the harsh winter of 1944, suffering frostbite, broken bones, and a lack of food, water and basic human needs. For his service he received recognition by means of the Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European Theater Service Medal with four Bronze Stars, and the Victory Medal. ln 1989 he was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal. He was also a Life Member of both the Disabled American Veterans Col S. D. Foster 76 Chapter, and the American Ex-Prisoners of War. Although he suffered the physical and psychological

effects of his wounds and captivity, he never spoke of his experiences with his family, until he became active with the Prisoner of War Group conducted by the Veteran's Administration at Highland Drive, during the 1990's. As Ed's health declined in his later years, he again turned to the Veteran's Administration for assistance, this time becoming a resident at the Community Living Center at the H.J. Heinz Campus located in Aspinwall. He was respected there by his fellow residents as a hero, and was Iovingly cared for by all of the staff until his passing. The family wishes to recognize and thank all who attended him there for their care and attention to his every need. Ed's achievements in this world will be remembered by his friends and family, and all who knew him.

Family and friends will be received on Saturday, October 12th, from 2pm until time of prayer service at 4:00 pm, at the Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, lnc., 1014 California Avenue, Avalon, (412-766-5600.) lnurnment will take place in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies at a later date.