Usaf Ltcol. (Ret.) John (Jack) A. Kovacs

John (Jack) A. Kovacs, LtCol USAF-Retired, passed away on December 2, 2020. Jack was born on June 4, 1935 in Norwalk, Connecticut, the son of Albert J. Kovacs and Iva Mary (neé Guimond). He is survived by his wife of 61 wonderful years, Judith Kovacs (neé Showalter) of Fairborn, Ohio; a sister, Beverly Spaven of Virginia; son Kevin Kovacs (wife Deborah); daughter Karyn (husband Colin Morrow); daughter-in-law Diane Kovacs; a nephew, Kraig Spaven of Virginia; grandchildren Amy, CJ, Michael, Kevin, Brittney, and Patrick; great-grandchildren Tyler, Madison, MacKenzie, Trey, Evelyn, Carson, Cadence, Trenton, Peyton, Parker, and Wesley. He was pre-deceased by his oldest son, Christopher in 2015 (age 53). We hope he was greeted by his former dogs, Sugar, Misty, and Pookie, who he loved dearly.

Jack was a command-pilot and retired after 26 years of military service. He started his flying career flying ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) and TELINT (Telemetry Intelligence) collection reconnaissance missions in the RB-47 aircraft with the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (now known as the 55th Wing, at Offutt AFB, Nebraska and Forbes AFB). He deployed to Thule AB, Greenland; Incirlik AB, Turkey; Hawaii; and Wake Island. After six years of reconnaissance crew duty, Jack moved into increasingly more responsible reconnaissance related positions as a Reconnaissance Operations Officer from detachment level to major command level at the Strategic Air Command Headquarters Reconnaissance Center at Offutt AFB, near Omaha, and at the United Nations Command Headquarters at Yongsan Army Garrison, in Seoul, Korea. Jack represented the United Nations Command at the monthly Pacific reconnaissance scheduling meetings; he also represented the Senior SAC Commander in Europe at the monthly European area scheduling conference meetings. Jack’s last assignment was at the Operations Officer for the CT-39 (Sabreliner) detachment at Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton, Ohio, managing the flight activities of nine Air Force corporate jet aircraft, 15 assigned pilots, and 80 part time pilots, flying VIP missions to bases and civilian airports, generally east of the Mississippi.

During his 26-year career, Jack was stationed in Topeka, Kansas; Adana, Turkey; Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts; Omaha, Nebraska; Seoul, Korea; Madrid, Spain; Ramstein, Germany; and Fairborn, Ohio. He was on active flying status at almost all assignment locations to maintain his flying currency. He flew the T-24, T-38, TB-25, RB-47, EB-47E “Tell Two,” C-54, C-118, T-29, C-131, and the CT-39, totaling over 4400 flying hours. He spent 20 years in Strategic Air Command, 1 year in the United Nations Command, 4 years in Military Airlift Command, and a year in pilot training.

Jack earned his Bachelor’s degree (BGS) from The University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1973, while working full time at SAC Headquarters; and earned his Master’s degree (MSA) from Central Michigan University in 1988, while working full time as a government contractor following his retirement from the USAF. Jack’s military awards include three Meritorious Service Medals, three Air Medals, two Joint Service Commendations Medals and three Air Force Commendation Medals.

Following retirement from his Air Force career, Jack was a management seminar-trainer; the Director of Day-Vest (a volunteer employment search group sponsored by the employment bureau); a pilot consultant for Midwest Systems Research (a government contractor), and a part-time instructor in aviation management for Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio and subsequently for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with classrooms at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Jack was a life member of the 55th Wing Association, an honorary member of the B-47 Stratojet Association, a member of the Air Force Association, The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), the Air Force Museum Foundation, AMVets Ohio Post 444, and attended Christ Episcopal Church in Dayton, Ohio.

Jack was very proud of his Hungarian heritage and researched his genealogy extensively in his retirement. He always took pride in his yard and garden. He was a huge fan of Westerns and loved to watch old cowboy movies. He was the biggest Nebraska Cornhusker’s fan (Go Big Red!). The week before he left this world, he spent a wonderful week at his favorite place, Holden Beach, NC with his daughter’s family.

The family would like to thank the staff at DaVita Fairborn Dialysis for their exceptional care and service over the past few years. He really enjoyed talking to the staff during dialysis. He also had a great medical team of doctors and nurses over the past several years and without them, we wouldn’t have been able to have him as long as we did.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday December 15, 2020 at 12:00 noon at the Belton-Stroup Funeral Home, 422 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd., Fairborn, Pastor H. Wesley Barnhill officiating.  The family will receive friends from 11:00 A.M. until the time of service and requests those attending to please wear a mask.  A graveside service with military honors will follow at 1:30 P.M. at the Dayton National Cemetery, Rev. Peter Homeyer officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to Cityheart Dayton (daytoncityheart.com) or sent to the Helping Hands fund at Towne and Country Animal Clinic (801 N. Broad Street, Fairborn, Ohio 45324) which provides assistance for pet owners with financial hardship to be able to pay for services and medication for their pets.

If you are so inclined, please raise a toast of rum and coke or sangria in his memory.