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A3C Michael Bell (Unit Historian)
to remember
Hovastak, Michael W., Col.
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Contact Info
Home Town Passaic
Last Address Smyrna, GA
Date of Passing Jun 21, 2011
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Colonel Michael W. Hovastak Just before midnight on June 21, 2011, Colonel Michael W. Hovastak, United States Air Force retired, entered eternal life. His 12.5 year battle with prostate cancer ended. Michael was born in Passaic, NJ on April 23, 1943.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mickey and Helen, as well as his sister, Pattie Marosy. Michael will be missed by his wife of 44.5 years, Patricia Vansickle Hovastak, Smyrna, GA, two daughters, Angela Hovastak and her husband, David Sauls of Swansboro, NC, Suzanne Hovastak and her husband, Tyger Vollrath of Smyrna, GA, and one son, Major select Michael J. Hovastak and his wife, Michell of Colorado Springs, CO. Michael was Grandpa to five beautiful grandchildren: SPC Ryan A. Wagner, US Army, Ft. Polk, LA and SPC Patricia G, currently serving in Afghanistan, her husband SPC David Aponte, US Army, Ft Hood, TX children of Angie. Elizabeth Grace Vollrath, daughter of Suzanne. Michael S. and Madeline Claire Hovastak, are the children of Michael J. Michael graduated from Clifton High School, NJ and Fairleigh Dickinson University with a degree in Chemistry.
He joined the Air Force and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1965. He met and married Patricia on December 26, 1966 while stationed at Perrin AFB in Sherman, TX. He spent 1967 in DaNang, Vietnam. Michael had many jobs during the almost 28 years he spent in the Air Force. One of the most demanding was the four years at the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs however, the two years he spent there as the Air Officer Commanding of 29th Squadron was the most rewarding. During his career, he was awarded the Legion of Merit with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal w/3 OLC, the AF Commendation Medal w/2 OLC, the Combat Readiness Medal, the National Defense Service Medal w/1 device, the Vietnam Service Medal w/2 devices, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the AF Outstanding Unit Award w/4 OLC, the AF Organizational Excellence Award w/2 OLC, the AF Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, the AF Longevity Service Award w/1 Silver OLC, the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, and the AF Training Ribbon.
After retirement, he attended Oklahoma City University School of Law where he graduated in 1996. He practiced law in OK for 7 years before moving to Smyrna, in 2003 when he and daughter Suzanne opened Hovastak Law. He was a Life Master Bridge Player, golf enthusiast and he enjoyed the Florida beaches. He also served as an Eucharistic Minister at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church.
On Tuesday, July 5, the noon mass will be said at St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Smyrna. St. Mary Assumption Roman Church was the site of his funeral on June 27, followed by a military burial in St. Mary's Cemetery in Saddle Brook, NJ.
Funeral arrangements were made by Bizub's Funeral Home. You can visit their web site at www@bizub.com. If you do not have a favorite charity, we'd like you to consider Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home which sits in the shadow of Turner Field at 760 Pollard St, SW, Atlanta, GA 30315.
Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on July 4, 2011