Jack Waschitz

Jack Waschitz, age 91, of Henderson, Nevada passed away peacefully at home on Friday, January 19, 2024. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on July 19, 1932. Jack enlisted in the United States Navy and was selected to serve in the US Navy SeaBees. He graduated first in his class from the Class “A” Builders School during the Korean war.

Jack loved the construction business and never wanted to do anything else. Early in his career, Jack worked as a union carpenter then opened his own contracting business. Throughout his career Jack was involved in the construction of many complex commercial projects from VA hospitals to multi-story office towers throughout the United States. In 1991, Jack joined Bill Sweetser as co-founder of the New Centennial Contractors in Reston, Virginia building a very successful construction firm that thrives today. In 2010, Jack retired from Centennial Contractors Enterprises, Inc. as a Senior Vice President. The greatest joy he had during his 50-plus year career was not only seeing the successful completion of a building, but by passing down the wisdom he gathered over the years to anyone willing to listen and learn. He enjoyed his profession so much that he once commented he would have never retired if it wasn’t so difficult to walk through the airport to catch his plane.

Jack was honorable, well-liked, and respected by his associates, family, and friends. A true Renaissance man, Jack was an artist who enjoyed photography, often creating oil paintings of his photos. He was an automobile enthusiast and aficionado, especially fond of BMW. Jack may be best remembered as a raconteur about his years in the US Navy which provided the groundwork for his long professional career. He had numerous humorous tales about his adventures in Libya where he was chased by nomads on camels. In Cuba, he served as an MP on the weekends where he was responsible for getting the enlisted men back to the ships after the bars closed, which was no easy task. And finally, in the Caribbean, where he vowed to never return due to the unbearable working conditions caused by intense heat and humidity.

Words aren’t adequate to describe Jack and Margaret’s love for each other. They both enjoyed traveling and spent every weekend exploring the many areas where they lived at the time. They also traveled to Europe and cruised on the Queen Mary II. Jack shared with Margaret a deep love of nature and animals, and their favorite sport was shooting trap. Jack, along with Margaret, was always a generous host and attended as many family celebrations as possible.

Jack is survived by Margaret Zlotucha Waschitz, his loving wife of 53 years; his daughter, Melissa Tyler, and several nieces and nephews. Jack was proceeded in death by his parents, Oscar and Mary Waschitz; as well as his three older brothers Albert and Ben Waschitz, and Ruby Wyman.

Jack will be laid to rest with military honors at the National National Cemetery, Friday, February 2, 2024 at 12:30pm.