Edward V. Banas Sr.

Edward Vincent Banas of Old Saybrook, Connecticut died peacefully on October 14, 2012 at the Gladeview Healthcare Center in Old Saybrook. Born in Trumbull, Connecticut on July 18, 1919, he was the son of Stephen and Mary Banas. Mr. Banas resided in Connecticut for most of his life before retiring to Sunapee, New Hampshire. He returned to Connecticut in 2004.

A graduate of Bassick High School in Bridgeport, he attended the Junior College of Connecticut and the University of Illinois. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps, training as an aircraft mechanic and instructor at Chanute Field in Illinois.

Upon discharge from the service, Mr. Banas enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a contract and manufacturing engineer. As a Branch Chief for Sikorsky Aircraft, he led a highly successful 3 year project in West Germany building the 75 CH-53 G Heavy Lift Helicopter. He retired from Sikorsky where he was employed for 32 years.

Mr. Banas was active in the Sikorsky Club, the Stratford and Bridgeport YMCA, and St. Teresa’s Knights of Columbus. In retirement, he served as the President of the Sunapee Lions Club and Sunapee Historical Society.

Ed was a kind and gentle man who was predeceased by Margaret (Meyer) Banas, his loving wife of 62 years. He is survived by 3 daughters, Marilyn Kalal and her husband Charles, Lucille Grover and her husband Reginald, and Susan Case and her husband Walter of Old Saybrook, a son, Edward Banas Jr. of Stratford, a brother, John Banas of Simsbury, seven grandchildren David and Katelin Kalal, Tamra Czuchra and her husband Roger Jr., Bryan Millspaugh, Tracie Schock and her husband Kevin, Erik Pacific and his wife Erin, Keith Pacific and his wife Marjorie. 3 great grandchildren, Colin and Chloe Czuchra and Jacob Pacific and many nieces and nephews. In his final days, he worked diligently to complete a memoir, a legacy of his life to share with family and friends.

A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. John’s Roman Catholic Church in Old Saybrook on October 19 at 10 A.M. followed by a private family interment at the Trumbull Burial Ground in Trumbull, Connecticut.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Middlesex Hospice and Palliative Care in Middletown, Connecticut, an organization to which his family extends its deepest thanks for the care and compassion it provided to Ed during his long illness