John Piatek

A Funeral Mass will be held for Captain John A. Piatek, retired, 83, of 1426 Wilkes Point Road, Green Cove Springs, 32043, on Monday, November 16, 2009 at 6:00PM, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 7190 Highway 17 South, Fleming Island, Florida. Mr. Piatek passed away quietly at home on November 3, 2009 from congestive heart failure. A celebration of Captain Piatek's life will be held at the church immediately after the funeral mass. Mr. Piatek was born on December 13, 1925 in Newark, New Jersey as the youngest of John Piatek and Mary Habrilla's 6 children. Mr. Piatek married Josephine (Joy) Strezelecki on August 22, 1948. They had three children Karon Piatek Haymes, Kathy Piatek, and Bruce Piatek. John enjoyed the addition of his daughter-in-law Debby Piatek; five grand-children ; Rebecca, Sharon, Jessica, Josh and Joy; and two great grand-children, Kendall and Bryson; to his family. All family members reside in Florida. He was a life long blood donor, Fleet Reserve Member, Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans, Plank Owner of the US Naval Memorial, Charter Member of the National Naval Officers Association, past member of the Knights of Columbus, 15 year volunteer Mediator and Hearing Officer for the 4th Judicial District, Substitute Teacher at Clay Middle and Clay High School, and volunteered with the Red Cross, Cancer Society, and Multiple Sclerosis Society. Captain Piatek entered the Navy in 1943 through the V-12 Program and received his midshipmen training at Columbia University in New York City. He served on the USS Petrof Bay; then joined the Amphibious Force on LST 601; in 1951 he was assigned to the staff of NATO with the Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia. He graduated from accelerated courses at the General Line School and joined the USS Charles S. Sperry (DD 697) as Operation Officer and then as Executive Officer. He was then ordered to the Destroyer Escort USS Parle (DE 708). In 1957 Captain Piatek became Training Officer at the Fleet Training Center, Norfolk. He then returned to the Amphibious Force in 1960 as Commanding Officer of the USS Suffolk County (LST 1173). A tour of duty as Executive Officer of the Naval Officer Candidate School and Naval Schools Command followed. He returned to the Destroyer Force as the Commanding Officer of the USS Norris (DD 859). Captain Piatek then served as Training Officer with the Fleet Training Group, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and in 1968 became Commanding Officer of the Fleet Training Center, Mayport, Florida. In 1972 Captain Piatek became the Commanding Officer of the Fleet Training Center, in Norfolk, Virginia. He retired to Green Cove Springs in 1974 with his wife and family after 31 years of military service. He enjoyed his family, friends and membership in Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Thank you to all his friends, and to those who showed him kindness. Please make donations to St. Jude's Children Hospital in lieu of flowers.