Harry HRUNIAK

HRUNIAK, Harry
Harry Hruniak, 88, of Sarasota, FL, died peacefully Friday, (May 10), surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn of Sarasota (formerly of Cromwell); daughter Kathryn Adams and her husband Gordon of Middletown, and daughter Jennifer Fodaski and her husband Philip of Hebron. He is also survived by a sister, Amelia Andrade of Taunton, MA; grandchildren Foster Adams of Ft. Smith, AR, Mary Adams and her husband Angel Gonzalez of New York City, Donald Fodaski and his fiancé Nicole Cellini of Middletown, Rachel Fodaski of Colchester; and a great-grandchild, Jayden Lane West of Colchester. Harry was born in Bridgewater, MA, and attended Bridgewater High School until December of 1941, when he left school to join the United States Navy at age 17 at the outbreak of World War II. After two weeks of boot camp, he achieved the rank of 1st class electrician's mate and he served on the destroyer USS Wilson throughout the war. The first mission for the USS Wilson with Harry aboard was to Murmansk of the Soviet Union to search for the German battleship Bismarck. He served in virtually every major battle in the Pacific Theater, but never discussed any of what he experienced with his family. At war's end, he returned to Bridgewater to complete high school, then continued his education at the Wentworth Institute in Boston, receiving an Associate's Degree in engineering. After his formal education, he was hired by Pratt and Whitney Aircraft and worked at both the East Hartford and Middletown facilities until he retired in 1985.
Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to make donations to the Tidewell Hospice Philanthropy Dept., 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238.