JOSEPH E. POTOSNAK

  
JOSEPH EDWARD POTOSNAK  CAPT. U.S. Navy (Ret.)   
Joseph Potosnak, of Fairfax, VA, passed away on March 30, 2012 surrounded by his loving family. He was born on March 23, 1931 in Lodi, NJ to the late Joseph and Elizabeth Potosnak. Capt. Potosnak received his commission through the Naval Aviation Cadet Program and in December 1954 he was designated a Naval Aviator. He was passionate about flying. During his distinguished career he served in multiple squadrons. As an aviator he made eight carrier deployments and flew combat missions in Vietnam. He assumed command of Attack Squadron VA-56 in 1969 and became the Commanding Officer of Attack Carrier Air Wing 19 in 1973. During his time in the military, Capt. Potosnak attended the Armed Forces Staff College; earned a BA in International Relations at the Naval Post Graduate School; attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces; and earned a Master's Degree from George Washington University. He also served as Director of Career Progression at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, DC. His last assignment was Inspector General at NAVDAC. He retired in 1984 after 30 years of faithful and honorable service to his country. After his military service, he consulted for Information Spectrum, Inc. before retiring fully in 1996. During his retirement years he volunteered with the Fairfax County Adult Day Health Care Centers and served as President of ADHC Associates for ten years. He is survived by his devoted wife of 52 years, Dolores Bianchi Potosnak; children, Lynne Valentic (Jim), Brenda Potosnak and Richard Potosnak (Amy); and grandchildren, Matthew, Jessica, Henry, Nicholas, Chloe, and Willa. Visitation for Capt. Potosnak will be held on July 9, 2012 at Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, from 5 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 5121 Woodland Way, Annandale, VA 22203 on July 10 at 11 a.m., with interment following at Arlington National Cemetery. Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association,www.heart.org.www.fmfh.com