STANLEY JOSEPH PODOLAK
1916-2007

Stanley Joseph Podolak, age 91, of Pensacola, died Thursday, May 17, 2007, at a local retirement community. Stan was born April 12, 1916, in Easthampton, Mass. He received his undergraduate degree at the University of Massachusetts and later in life obtained a Masters of Hospital Administration from the University of Michigan. During World War II, Stan captained a B-25 in numerous missions within the European Theatre including the Ploesti air raid on the Rumanian oil fields.

During one of his missions, he was shot down over Germany and spent 18 months as a prisoner of war in StalagLuft I until the end of the war.

Upon his return and marriage, he resided in Taipei, Taiwan and various locations within the United States. Stanley retired as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force in 1962, and spent the remainder of his professional career as a Hospital Administrator in Detroit, Mich. Upon his second retirement, Stanley lived in Gulf Breeze and Pensacola for 28 years. Through the years he was active in the Quiet Birdman, the Daedalians and Saint Christopher's Episcopal Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Virginia J. Podolak; and is survived by his two daughters, Stanis Thomas and Camille Tripp; and two sons-in-law, three granddaughters, one grandson, and four great-grandchildren.

A private family service will be held in the summer with interment at Barrancas National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Veterans Administration.