SARATOGA SPRINGS – John P. Bartoszek, 92, of Saratoga Springs, a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, passed away Feb. 18, 2025.

Born in the Bronx, he was the son of John and Katherine Haliniak Bartoszek, who both immigrated via Ellis Island.

John grew up in New York City with younger brothers Peter and Raymond, who passed away at age 4. He met his wife Martha Jane Garcia while he was stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, AK. The couple wed in Valdosta, GA, in 1957 and lived at several U.S. Air Force bases around the country before his last assignment at Plattsburgh Air Force Base in 1964. They were married for 59 years until her death in 2016.

He began his career in 1952 as an officer in the U.S. Air Force starting as an instructor radar observer, then a missile crew commander and instructor in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) managing the underground Atlas F intercontinental missile complex. He was also a master navigator flying missions in the KC-135 in Europe and Southeast Asia and instructing new navigators. His last years in the USAF were spent as a staff officer and unit planner for SAC. He was awarded the Bronze Star among the many medals he earned in his career.

Within a month of arriving at PAFB in 1964, John bought a cabin on Mt. Arab Lake in the Adirondacks where the family spent their summers. He also served a term as president for the Mt. Arab Preserve Association.

After serving 20 years in the USAF, he retired with the rank of major in 1972. John moved his family into the city of Plattsburgh, where he earned his BA in Geography and MA in Education/Counseling at SUNY Plattsburgh.

John then went on to an 18-year career as Manager/Operations Training at Ayerst Laboratories in Rouses Point.

In retirement, the couple spent their summers at camp and winters in Delray Beach, FL.

In October 2017, accompanied by his daughter Barbara, John was able to join the North Country Honor Flight #22 for a day trip to Washington, DC, to visit the national monuments with other North Country veterans.

He was active in the Plattsburgh community as a past president of the Clinton County Mental Health Association and MAI School Board. He served on the Education Committee at Ayerst Credit Union, Parish Council at St. Peter's Church, and American Society for Training and Development. He was a guest speaker at the SUNY Plattsburgh School of Business and the Greater Montreal Pharmaceutical Discussion Group. He also helped organize and was the first administrator of Clinton Community College's adult basic education program for service members (PREP Program) in 1973.

He loved watching, teaching, and playing tennis, and in his 80s he played pickleball. He enjoyed bicycling and did the Tour de l'Île in Montreal a few times. He was big supporter of SUNY Plattsburgh sports and was a member of the Cardinal Booster Club.  And he was an avid reader.

John was a parishioner at St. Peter's Church in Plattsburgh from 1964 until he moved to Saratoga Springs in 2019 to be closer to family.

He is survived by his children Monica Bartoszek of Ballston Lake, Theresa Bartoszek of Saratoga Springs, Angela (David) Street of Myrtle Beach, SC, Jack (Sindye) Bartoszek of Saratoga Springs, and Barbara (Dwight) Booth of Newburyport, MA. He is also survived by 3 grandsons, Joseph Bartoszek, James Bartoszek, and Timothy Jerome; and 2 granddaughters, Amanda Bartoszek and Jennifer Street; as well as his brother Peter (Letty) Bartoszek of Pelham, NY, and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on March 28, 2025, at the Church of St. Peter, 241 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY, followed by an inurnment with military honors at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Road, Schuylerville, NY.

The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at Home of The Good Shepherd and Saratoga Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in John's name to support the great work of the non-profit North Country Honor Flight at http://www.northcountryhonorflight.org/donate.html or P.O. Box 2644, Plattsburgh, NY 12901.