From http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080905/OBIT/809050309

John "Jack" Wesesky

March 4, 1924-August 28, 2008

Jack was born in Hawk Run, Pennsylvania, to John and Helen Wesesky. The family moved to Cleveland, Ohio when Jack was a young boy.

After graduating from high school, Jack enlisted in the Army Air Corps and joined an elite group of glider pilots during World War II.

These pilots were a hybrid breed, definitely one of a kind. Jack was one of the first glider pilots to fly over the Rhine, landing behind enemy lines with infantrymen and explosives on board.

After the war, Jack attended Ohio State University where he received his degree in Flight Test Engineering.

While at Ohio State, he met and later married his wife, Catherine. He and Catherine then moved to Edwards, California, where Jack was a flight test engineer working with legendary test pilots Chuck Yeager and test pilot/astronaut Neil Armstrong.

Some of Jack's projects were the X-15 and the HL-10, also known as the flying bathtub, both of which were precursors to the space shuttle.

He was later promoted to Director of the Flight Test Engineering Center at Edwards. Jack was also a USAF Member of the NATO Advisory Group for Research and Development Flight Mechanics Panel and a member of the Flight Test Instrumentation Group from 1974-1977.

He was instrumental in developing procedures for developing and producing a series of Flight Test Instrumentation Group manuals that became standards for installing and maintaining instrumentation in experimental and new aircraft undergoing flight testing in NATO countries.

Jack was a member of the Lancaster Rotary, where he was in charge of the International Exchange Program. While traveling to India during an exchange, he had the privilege of sitting down and visiting with Indira Gandhi.

After retiring, Jack and Catherine spent their time traveling, which eventually brought them to Sequim. They fell in love with the area and decided to make it their home.

In 1995, two days short of their 45th wedding anniversary, Catherine preceded Jack in death.

After Catherine's passing, Jack and longtime friend, Mindy Putnam, decided to enjoy life together as partners. Together, they enjoyed dancing, music, and eating out.

Mindy now resides in La Honda, California, near her family.

Jack is survived by his son, Mark Wesesky, of Forest Grove, Oregon; daughter, Marcia Wesesky, and her partner, J. Brzoska, of Sequim; his sister, Midge Hess, of Parma, Ohio; and nieces Linda (Ken) Macklin of Parma, Ohio, and Nancy (Glenn) Gezovich of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Jack was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer on June 17 and died peacefully with his daughter at his side on August 28.

Up until the week before his death, he still enjoyed dancing at the Port Angeles Senior Center and listening to the Concert on the Pier with his daughter, Marcia.

Jack was a very determined man as well as a very loving and compassionate man who will be greatly missed by all who had the opportunity to know him. Mark and Marcia are very lucky and proud to have had him as their father.