CAPT GEORGE J YATSKO USNR (Ret)., died of cancer June 3, 2002 fifty years to the day from his graduation and commissioning at Maritime. He was 74 years old.
Yatsko was a World War II veteran and a Merchant Marine veteran of the Korean and Persian Gulf Wars. In later years he gave freely of his time to the Alumni Association to help get the college back on track.
Alumni President Ted Mason '57 recalled, Several years ago, when we were in deep trouble, I received a call from Pat Luchie and he asked what I neededI said in so many words a good hand to help in our campaign. There was no hesitation [he said] call George Yatsko.
For a while George worked almost full time, partially from home and partially from the Alumni office, to help launch the S.O.S. Campaign. I am not sure, he may have even selected the title. In any event it was yeoman service, highly effective service, and diligent to the point that we were moving too slow for George and in too cumbersome manner. He let us know but kept steam¬ing.
The Alumni Position Paper, dated December 7, 1999, was largely drafted by George and l, in an effort to present on one page, an accurate picture of the crisis at the college. It was highly effective and used repeatedly in our discussions with legislators and others.
Additionally, George was a delight to work with both profes¬sionally and just as a person. I still marvel that George was about to go out on a week of wind surfing just last fall when he learned he had a serious prob¬lem. Many of us would not be able to get a wind surfboard on an even keel for more than a few seconds. George was determined to enjoy life. He will be sorely missed.
Yatsko was interred with mili¬tary honors at Arlington National Cemetery on June 27, 2002. In addition to family and friends, eight of Yatsko's classmates at Maritime attended the ceremony. His wife, Pat, has offered to donate to the college the silver skates he won as a cadet on taking first place in the New York Daily News Silver Skates competition.
FMSAA