John Knoska Jr.

KNOSKA, JR., JOHN, age 86, of Winter Park, passed away January 10, 2007. He was born November 3, 1920 in Cleveland, OH. His parents immigrated to America from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and John became fluent in five languages as he grew up. He loved to converse in the Slavic languages as he traveled around the world...three times! John joined the U.S. Navy in 1937, and served for 28 years. He loved the life at sea, serving on the USS Tatum and USS Lawrence. He was at Pearl Harbor during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack, and served in the South Pacific during the War. He was sent to Japan after the war, and was one of the first to visit Hiroshima and
Yokohama to help with recovery efforts. He received many wartime service medals. After retiring from the Navy as a Chief Commissary Steward, John settled in Daytona Beach and was one of the first property managers for hundreds of condominiums along A1A. But John's main hobby in life was ballroom dancing. He was the Hospitality Chairman on the Board of the Central Florida Chapter of the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dancers Assn., now know as USA Dance. His warm smile greeted everyone attending the monthly dances, and he helped with many USA Dance events that benefited area charities, raising tens of thousands of dollars to benefit children's hospitals, United Way, Second Harvest, Toys for Tots, hurricane relief, and young dancers. He was also a member of the Maitland Cotillion, Belles & Beaus Dance Club, YACS Dance Club, the VFW, Mooose Lodge, and
Hagar Viking Club. He was preceded in death by his wife and daughter. He wishes to be remembered as a true friend to his many friends around the world. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund will be created to benefit the Central Florida Chapter of USA Dance; please contact Gunn Seawell. Memorial Service with military honors will be held at 11AM on Saturday, January 20th at the Ascension Lutheran Church, 351 Ascension Drive, Casselberry. Arrangements are by A Community Funeral Home & Sunset Cremation, 910 W. Michigan St., Orlando, FL 32805. 407-841-4424