John P. Ostoski

Ostoski, John Paul, 93, of Cocoa Beach, Florida, passed away on Wednesday, October 19, 2011. He was born May 7, 1918 in Laporte, Indiana, one of seven children. The family moved to West Virginia where he attended school. He graduated from Sharples High School in Sharples, West Virginia. He received his Bachelor Degree from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia and his Master of Business Administration from Stetson University in Deland, Florida.

He was deferred from service during World War II for his research work on a secret project - the atomic bomb. He also worked at Mound Laboratory where he worked as a chemist in concentrating polonium which was used as the trigger for the atom bomb at that time.

His management career consisted of lead engineer, supervisor and manager.

John retired from Rockwell Inc. as a quality engineer. He was a key member of the Rockwell Launch team on most of the Apollo program including Apollo 11 which placed an astronaut on the moon. His name is inscribed on the Apollo monument in Titusville, Florida, for those who contributed to placing a man on the moon.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel. He is survived by his three children, Stan, Gary and Rod; five grandchildren, Ryan, Karissa, Lindsey, Ashley and Matt Place; and one great-grandchild, Olivia; two brothers, Wilson from Dayton, Ohio and Clem from St. Louis, Missouri.

Family will receive friends on Saturday, October 22nd from 2:00 - 3:00 PM followed by funeral services at 3:00 PM at Brevard Memorial Funeral Home Chapel.

Arrangements under the direction of Brevard Memorial Funeral Home, Cocoa, FL.