John J. Pitrus

John J. Pitrus, beloved husband of Kathleen Tuohey Pitrus and retired Marketing Director of Pratt and Whitney Aircraft died August 26, 2011. He was 87 years old and a resident of West Hartford since 1952. He was born in Hartford the son of the late Joseph Pitrus and Pauline Brzostecki Pitrus and graduated from Hartford Public High School in 1941. He received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY and a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Technological College in Lubbock, Texas. During World War II, he interrupted his education, enlisted in the army, and fought with the 103rd and 45th infantry divisions in the Seventh Army. He was awarded two bronze stars for valor, a commendation from the French government, ETO ribbon with two battle stars, and the combat infantryman's badge among other commendations. He was with troops that liberated Nazi concentration camps at Landsberg and Dachau, Germany and the first to link up with the Fifth Army in Brenner Pass between Austria and Italy. He also supported the right flank of the Third Army at the Battle of the Bulge. Following World War II, he joined the faculty at Rensselaer while completing his Master's degree. He subsequently joined Wright Aeronautical Division of Curtis Wright Corporation where he was involved in the early government missile programs. In 1952, he joined Pratt and Whitney Aircraft. His work at Pratt and Whitney took him all over the world assisting the airlines with engine and aircraft operations and their subsequent transition to the jet age. He spent many hours teaching flight crews and accompanied them during test flights, proving runs and normal operations. He particularly enjoyed post overhaul test flights when the crew let him fly the aircraft "back to the barn". Mr. Pitrus pioneered in the field of Engine Condition Diagnostics, writing several papers on the subject and presenting them at aviation industry conferences in the US and Europe. He was later involved with marketing Pratt engines to the world's airlines, armed forces and governments. He worked with NASA during the early beginnings of space exploration and the supersonic transport program as well as advising many domestic and international airlines during their introduction to their new breed of jumbo jets. He served on the Aviation Advisory Board of Southern Illinois University, was a member of Aviation Week research advisory panel and a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He was listed in the "Who's Who in Aviation History." He was a founding member of the Church of St. Timothy and Church of St. Peter Claver, both in West Hartford. He was a member of the Hartford Gold Club, a past president of the Old Guard of West Hartford, a member of the 1892 Club, the American Legion Veteran's of Foreign Wars, Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, and Gamma Alpha Rho, the honorary aeronautical engineering fraternity. He was a volunteer with the Red Cross Blood Mobile. He also volunteered for the UCONN Geriatric Gait and Balance studies. He was also a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the committee that started the Insurance City Open Tournament, later which became the Greater Hartford Open and the Travelers Championship. He leaves his wife Kathleen Tuohey Pitrus, three children, Kati Ballantyne, Gretchen Dinucci and John J Pitrus Jr., and their spouses; a sister Anna Hanko; six grandsons, Tyler and John Dinucci of West Hartford, Spencer and Tucker Ballantyne of Yardley, PA and Conor and Ryan Pitrus of Medfield, MA and several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 2, 2011 at the Church of Saint Timothy, 1116 North Main Street, West Hartford. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. There are no calling hours. Friends are asked to proceed directly to church Friday morning. Contributions in his memory may be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 310, White Plains, NY 10605. For directions and online condolences, please visit www.taylorandmodeen.com.

John J. Pitrus

September 9, 1923 - August 26, 2011