John Hermansky

John Hermansky passed away at his home in Arizona. John was born and raised in Omaha, NE, the fifth of six children. He was in his senior year at the University of Missouri when he left school to join the Air Force just after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was a Flight Clerk of the Air Transport Command on a supply plane that flew the famous route between China, Burma and India over the Himalayas known as "The Hump." He earned both an Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross for completing over 750 "hump" hours. His brother's wedding brought John to the Bay Area where he met his future wife, Marinell Williams. They were married in 1951 until her death in 2003. John and Marinell settled in the East Bay where John's professional career ultimately culminated with his Oakland-based business, RAHM Advertising, which John started in 1959 and ran until his retirement in 1988. John was a news junkie with a strong political opinion and was an avid writer. He combined his two passions into a hobby later in life as a frequent writer to the editor expressing his position on local current events. His others interests included reading, camping, sports (Oakland Raider season ticket holder), and a good joke. John is survived by his five children: Suzanne Scott (John), Jon Hermansky (Mari), Michael Hermansky (Lisa), Lisa Clark (Jeff), and Robert Hermansky (Frances) and twelve grandchildren. He will be remembered by his children in a variety of ways, but certain threads run through all: big laugh, energetic story teller, a champion of proper grammar, and appreciator of a nice camp site. Funeral arrangements will be private.