Obituary of William B. Tirnadi

William B. Tirnadi, age 98, of Stratford, passed away Sunday, December 9, 2018 at home with his loving family surrounding him. Bill was born Bela Balazs Tirnadi on February 6, 1920 in Bridgeport, the second son of Lazlo Tirnadi and Helen Marczi who were immigrants from Hungary. Bill grew up in Bridgeport's West End and graduated from Bassick High School in 1938. He married the former Helen Pusta on July 9, 1949. They raised their family and spent most of their lives in Stratford. In WWII, Bill served in the Navy on LST 779 in the Pacific. His ship landed troops and equipment on Iwo Jima during the battle and their flag was raised on Mt. Suribachi, The event is immortalized in the photo and monument. Bill was a proud veteran and past member of the Stratford American Legion. A brick commemorating his service is found at the Veteran's Memorial in Stratford, The family is grateful to the VA for its assistance and care during Bill's final years. After the war, Bill began his career at Sikorsky Aircraft and worked as a purchasing agent for 32 years, retiring in 1983. Following his "retirement" he worked for Specialty Tool Co., Milford for another 15 years. During all of his working life Bill was a loyal employee and friend, dedicated to his company and to his work. While at Sikorsky, Bill hosted yearly cookouts for his work friends, where they enjoyed a traditional Hungarian bacon roast and homemade doughnuts. Bill was active in sports for most of his life. He bowled, played baseball and basketball in church leagues as a youth and as an adult played softball, ping pong, and was an avid tennis player. He participated in amateur tennis leagues and was an excellent doubles player, often winning trophies during the 1970s. Later on he was an enthusiast golfer. He was a life-long Red Sox fan. Their World Series victory in 2004 was a vindication after years of enduring the scorn of his Yankee-loving friends. Bill was also a loyal follower of UConn women's basketball. Intellectually curious until the end, Bill pursued a number of hobbies and interests: vegetable and flower gardening, natural and herbal health, photography, music, nature and travel. He was an early practitioner of organic gardening and maintained flourishing vegetable, flower, and berry beds well into his 90s. He was the family's photographer for many years, chronicling birthdays, picnics, holidays and vacations, leaving precious memories for us to cherish. Bill loved nature and the outdoors, especially taking nature walks with Helen, children and later grandkids. He enjoyed birdwatching at the Fairfield and Milford Audubon Centers and after retirement he and Helen took birding trips with CT Audubon. Bill and Helen traveled extensively. They visited Hawaii, where Bill was stationed in WWII, the Canadian Rockies, Yosemite National Park, California, West Virginia and numerous other locations in the U.S. To celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary they travelled Alaska by ship and rail, visiting the Kenai Fjords and spending a week in Denali National Park. They returned to "the old country" in 2000 on a two week tour of Hungary during its 1,000 year celebration. Faith in God and loyalty to his church and Hungarian heritage sustained Bill and his family. He was a lifelong member of the First Magyar Reformed Church (later the First United Church of Christ), Bridgeport. He participated in church life as a member of the Consistory, the Brotherhood, and kitchen crew for the Hungarian Festivals. He and Helen were members of the senior choir for many years. He loved music and singing. Bill was kind, friendly, generous, patient, humble and loving, He was a wonderful spouse, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will always be remembered always for his love of a good joke and his warmth and tender heartedness. He taught us all well! Bill is survived by his wife Helen, daughters Ilona Sherratt (James), Julie Schultz, Diane Schietinger (Raymond Jr.), and Cynthia Vlacich, brother Albert Tirnadi, sister in-law Clara Jefferson, grandchildren and great-children, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by parents, two infant sons, and brother Lester Tirnady. Family and friends may call at Lesko & Polke Funeral Home, 1209 Post Rd. Fairfield, CT on Friday December 14, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. with a service being held at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Mt. Grove Cemetery, Bridgeport. Donations in Bill's memory may be made to the Connecticut Audubon Society, 314 Unquowa Rd., Fairfield, CT 06824. For travel directions or to sign his online guest register, please visit www.LeskoPolkeFuneralHome.com