ART NATOWICH

Art "Poppa" Natowich Merritt island Art "Poppa" Natowich was born March 21, 1932, in Ansonia, Connecticut to Thomas and Marie Natowich. Art made it across the finish line for the last time on May 10, 2010. Sadly, he was fol lowed ten weeks later by his special girl and walking partner, Miss Tillie. Art was a jockey in his youth and, though most of his professional life was spent working on nuclear missiles and missile launching submarines, he still loved the excitement of horse racing and kept up with it. He traveled the Triple Crown Circuit several times and watched his final Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2010. Art worked in the missile business for over forty years. Most of that time was spent on the Polaris/ Poseidon/Trident program. He thought he had the best job in the world and worked with the best people. He traveled extensively for General Electric and the Navy and made friends from Florida, to Hawaii, Washington to South Carolinaand found golf courses and good restau rants wherever he went. He and his wife, a personal chef, were especially fond of New Orleans and Charleston. They "col lected" five star restaurants and were pleased to visit with Wolfgang Puck in Las Vegas. As an ex athlete Art also liked to stay fit. He was a runner and played golf for several decades and for the last few years was a distance walker, generally logging from forty to fifty miles a week. Brain teaser puzzles and reading were also a big part of his "quiet time" in the afternoons. Except when "his girls" were visiting. Then he was a full-time Poppa. After his retirement from GE/Lockheed Martin, Art became his wifes full-time partner in their family businesses, Jus Clownin Around and The Personal Chef. He was an accom plished sous chef whose specialty was appetizers. He remarked not long before he died that he wondered how many thou sands of balloons he had personally made for their party business in over twenty years. He also ap preciated fine wines and cognacs and was an excel lent bartender. He loved to travel and enjoyed the wine country in California. Art was also community spirited. Over the years he helped benefit the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science, The Brevard Heritage Council, The Merritt Park Place Group, Inc. and the Chamber of Commerce Seafood Festival in its early days. He cared about the men and women of the Brevard County Sheriffs Department and truly loved attending performances of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra. He and his wife supported the BSO in many ways since 1990 and regretted missing the last few performances of the Season. Art enjoyed being the featured speaker at Derby Day fundraisers for the BSO Central Guild. He leaves behind his brother, Tom Natowich, his wife of forty-one years, Sandra LaRoche-Brannin, daughter, Tambra Shaine (Shively) Jonker, son, James E. Shively, III, his much loved grandson, Anthony Joseph Jonker (who first trained Poppa), daughter of the heart, Barbara K. Carta, and husband Anthony Joseph Carta, Goddaughter, Cheryl Preacher and "his girls", Valerie Preacher, Emily Carta and Kyra Carta as well as nieces, neph ews, cousins and friends. The family is especially appreciative of Cape Canaveral Hospital and Vitas Hospice. Art wished that a reception be held to honor his family, friends, physicians and caregivers. It will be held on Sunday, September 12th from 2:005:00 PM. Please RSVP by September 5th to 321-452-7668 for directions.