Robert A. Vostry of Chandler, Arizona, died November 4, 2011, after fighting brain cancer for over a year. He was 74.
Vostry was born in Berwyn, IL, on September 6, 1937. He graduated from Morton High School and received his BS from Stetson University, DeLand, FL.
Vostry enlisted in the USMC in 1961, commissioned the same year, and served until 1972. During his three tours of Vietnam, Vostry served as a company commander, battalion operations officer, and advisor. He joined the California National Guard in 1978 as a specialist and attained the rank of Sgt. Major until his retirement in 1997. In the Guard he served in armor; and the last ten years of duty, Vostry served as operations Sgt. Major of the Aviation Brigade, 40th ID.
Vostry’s military awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Purple Heart, Navy Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (4 stars), Army Achievement Medal, three Presidential Unit Citations, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal, two National Defense Medals, Humanitarian Service Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and NCO Professional Development Ribbons with the numeral 5.
Vostry was a minor league player from 1958-1961. He played for the Kansas City A’s and Chicago White Sox organizations. His best year was 1959 in Plainview, TX, with numbers of: .290/20/96.
Vostry was a scout for the Montreal Expos in the Central California area from 1997 to 2000. After moving to Arizona, he was a scout for the Florida Marlins from 2001 to present.
Vostry played and managed various all-Marine teams during 1963-1964 and 1968-1969. He also started against the 1964 Olympic Baseball Team.
Vostry also enjoyed many years playing with men’s baseball teams and competed for over a decade in the Men’s Senior Baseball League World Series in Phoenix, AZ, and Ft. Myers, FL.
He resided in California most of his life, moving to the Phoenix area in 2000. Vostry is survived by his wife, Yvonne; one daughter, Vonnie (and Mike) Casalegno of Long Beach, CA; one son, Robert, Jr. (and Kasey) Vostry of Elk Grove, CA; and four young grandsons.
Arrangements under the direction of Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery, Chandler, AZ.
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