John H. Winant, 85
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. â€' John Haldeman Winant, 85, of Hancock Road died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, at home. He was an expert in commercial aviation safety, serving on a number of federal task forces and commissions.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Sept. 3, 1923, son of William A. Winant Jr. and Hazel Hooper Winant, he was a 1941 graduate of Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., and received his bachelor's degree from Williams College after World War II. He returned to Williamstown after retiring in 1991.
A Marine Corps veteran of World War II, he served as a rifle platoon leader and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V for heroic conduct in the battle of Okinawa. He also earned a Presidential Citation. Recalled to active duty in the Korean War, he served as captain of the guard force at Indian Island in Puget Sound.
Mr. Winant was a reporter for The Associated Press' New York bureau before entering on a long career in the electronics industry and civil aviation. He was employed by the former Sprague Electric Co. in North Adams from 1953 to 1971, leaving as vice president of industrial relations and facilities. That year, he was named president of the National Business Aviation Association in Washington, D.C.
As president, he was involved in many national and international aviation issues and was appointed by the U.S. secretary of transportation to an 11-member advisory commission that created the authority that took over operation of Washington National and Dulles International airports from the Federal Aviation Administration. The transporation secretary of Transportation also named him to the 1983 Airport Task Force, created by Congress to streamline the movement of aircraft and passengers. At the request of the FAA administrator, he served on the Special Task Force on Airport Capacity Improvement and Delay Reduction.
He was for 12 years chairman of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration committee that oversees the Aviation Safety Reporting System, a confidential means of identifying safety efficiencies. He was also chairman of the steering committee that pinpointed early 21st-century requirements of new aviation navigation, communication and surveillance systems, including satellite. The International Business Aviation Council, a multinational group, was established under his guidance. Mr. Winant was a technical adviser to the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA), the organization that advises the U.S. government on requirements and standards for aerial electronic navigation, communications and surveillance systems.
While in Washington, he received many honors, including the Gilbert Trophy, on permanent display at the National Air and Space Museum, given for his work in air traffic control and aviation safety. He received the distinguished service award from FAA for "outstanding leadership in aviation" and the Airline Pilots Association gave him a special award for achievements "which furthered the goals of aviation safety and thus benefited all professional pilots." Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University conferred on him the honorary degree of doctor of aviation management and Gates Learjet Corp. established in his honor the John H. Winant Scholarship, a perpetual annual grant for bachelor degree study in aviation science or management.
Mr. Winant had been involved with many community organizations during his time at Sprague, including being president of the Northern Berkshire Community Fund and member of the state apprenticeship council. He was a corporator of North Adams Regional Hospital and served three terms on the vestry of St. John's Church.
After returning to Williamstown, he became president of the Williamstown Community Chest, did research for the Williamstown House of Local History and, for 12 years, was a director of the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation.
While in Washington, he was senior warden for four years of the historic St. John's Church in Lafayette Square and was a member of the Metropolitan Club of Washington. An Arthurian scholar, he belonged to the International Arthurian Society and wrote several interpretive articles for the second edition of the Arthurian Encyclopedia.
He leaves his wife of 60 years, the former Kathryn Geyer; a daughter, Claudia W. Ellet; a son, Peter B. Winant; five grandchildren, Kathryn Ashby Deluce, F. Bradley Peyton V, Glenn Eric Lagerwall, Hannah Aimee Winant, Olivia Kathryn Winant, and three great-grandsons.
FUNERAL NOTICE â€' A funeral service will be held Saturday, Jan. 17, at 11 St. John's Church in Williamstown. A service of remembrance will be held at a future date at St. John's Church, Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to VNA and Hospice of North Berkshire, North Adams Regional Hospital or the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation in care of Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, Central Chapels, 74 Marshall St., North Adams, MA 01247.
U.S. House Tribute to John H. Winant