Kaczor, Charlie

January 8,1924 - September 21, 2013

Waterford, Conneticut

Waterford - Charles S. Kaczor, age 89, of Waterford, passed away on September 21, 2013, at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital with his family by his side. He was born on January 8, 1924, in Yonkers, NY to the late Joseph and Laura (Pekalsky) Kaczor. He was married to his loving wife Mary S. (Oliver) Kaczor of Waterford and they celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary on September 11, 2013. Major Kaczor retired from the US Air Force in 1967 and then “Mr. Kaczor” later retired as an 8th Grade American History teacher from the Leonard J. Tyl Middle School in 1993. After graduating from Saunders High School in Yonkers, NY in 1942 he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps. After completing Aerial Radio Operations School in 1943 he was selected for pilot training and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant assigned to bomber training for the B-26 Martin Marauder. Upon completion of his bomber training he was assigned to the 344th Bomb Group of the 9th Air Force in Europe where he completed 20 combat missions over Germany. Returning to the USA after WWII he entered St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH graduating with the Class of 1950 and then entered Northeastern University Law School in Boston, MA. While a law student he was also an active reserve pilot in the 89th Troop Carrier Wing, Hanscom Field, MA from which he was recalled to active duty for the Korean War. The war ended one week before his deployment and he was reassigned to the 305th Bomb Wing of the Strategic Air Command in Plattsburgh, NY as a pilot of the B-47 Stratojet. With the arrival of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Atlas F missile wing was established and Charlie became commander of Missile Site 6 in Au Sable Forks, NY during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. When these missiles were phased out he completed his USAF career as a Chief Administrative Officer at Bunker Hill AFB in Peru, IN in 1967. He was awarded the United States Armed Forces Air Medal twice in his career. After completing his Masters Degree Program at the University of Connecticut “Mr. Kaczor” then began his second career as a teacher in the Montville School System. During his tenure he was named Montville Teacher of the Year in 1990. He also established and coached the Junior High Cross Country Team with an exemplary record, including several undefeated seasons. He is survived by his wife Mary, his 96 yr. old sister Wanda Brelesky of Waterford, CT; his three sons by a previous marriage, Mark A. Kaczor and his wife Mary of Idaho Falls, ID; Brian C. Kaczor and his wife Kathy of Durham, ME; Dennis J. Kaczor and his wife Champika of Monticello, IL; two grandchildren Arjun and Maya Kaczor of Monticello, IL; and several nieces and nephews. Also surviving are his wife Mary’s four daughters Terry Podoloff, Tina Huard, Ellen Huard, and Jamie Sabilia.

Family and friends may visit the Montville Funeral Home of Church and Allen, 63 Norwich New London Turnpike, on Monday from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Waterford on Tuesday at NOON. Interment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in New London. Rather than flowers, the family would prefer that donations be made in Charles’ honor to the Kaczor-Piper Scholarship Fund c/o Montville Public Schools, 800 Old Colchester Road, Oakdale, CT 06370 because he cared for his students even more than for himself.