LeRoy "Lee" Chester Zastovnik's Obituary
LeRoy “Lee” Chester Zastovnik, age 88, of Jefferson, TX, died peacefully on June 17, 2021. He was born on December 28, 1932 in Oak Hill, WV to the late Chester Stanley and Stella “Sally” Zastovnik. He grew up in Oak Hill, WV and studied music at Concord College. Proficient on the trombone, he was a member of the Commanders dance band and Bluefield Symphony Orchestra. He transferred to Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) in 1952 as a sophomore and volunteered as a “Rat” in the “Highty Tighties.” Lee received a BS in Mechanical Engineering and was a member of Pi Tau Sigma.
The week before college graduation, Lee married his childhood sweetheart Shirley Sue Toney of Oak Hill, West Virginia on May 29, 1955. The couple moved to Hartford, Connecticut where Lee designed aircraft gas turbines at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. Lee was recruited by GE at its Aircraft Gas Turbine Division in Cincinnati and spent a winter on top of Mt. Washington, NH, doing jet engine anti-icing research. In 1960, Lee transferred to the GE Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. He was involved in testing new aircraft and in the NASA “Right Stuff” astronaut programs. Lee instructed FAA engineers in testing commercial jet engines. He also studied at USC for an MSME and was assigned by GE as a jet engine installation specialist for several aircraft manufacturers in the Los Angeles area. He accepted a position at Collins Radio, Richardson TX in 1967 as a program manager for Project TACAMO, a US Navy communication C-130 aircraft. Following Rockwell international‘s acquisition of Collins, Lee was assigned as a project manager for the French Air Force communications aircraft. After retirement from Rockwell, he worked for Electrospace Systems Inc. in program management of communication system logistics. Lee was a Professional Engineer registered in Ohio and Texas, a Certified Manager, a Certified Professional Logistician, and a member of many technical societies. He also served as president of the National Management Association. He worked for the North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church in Communications for many years.
Lee served as president of the YMCA’s Richardson Y’s Men’s Club for three years. But Lee’s great joy was as serving as a longtime member of the B.P.O. Elks. He served for over 12 years as director and trustee of its handicapped children’s services operations. He was Exalted Ruler, District Deputy, and was selected as the Texas State Elk of the Year (1991-92). Lee was proud to serve as Administrative Assistant to its national president (1993-95).
Lee enjoyed woodworking, calligraphy, boating, camping, genealogy, Dolly Parton and Johnny Rivers. Lee married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Sue Toney on May 29, 1955 and had 3 beautiful children. Following her death in 1998, he married M. Jean Fitzgerald Starr in 1999 until her death in 2005. He then married Jo Ann Powell Hayes in 2012.
Lee is survived by his wife, Jo Ann of Jefferson, TX; his children, Cindy L. Acy (Jimmy) of Aurora, CO, Rev. Linda S. Zastovnik of Catawba, NC, and James S. Zastovnik (Terri) of Southport, NC; his grandchildren, Stephen Acy of CO and Christopher Acy (Caitlynn) of WI; his brother, Ron Zastovnik (Diane) of CA; his nephews, Ben Zastovnik and Andrew Zastovnik of CA; his aunt, Loretta Chornobay of NC.
Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, June 22 at Restland on Greenville Ave. in Richardson, Texas.
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