Remembering Lieutenant Colonel John Joseph “Jack” Spisak

Lieutenant Colonel John Joseph “Jack” Spisak of Round Hill, Virginia died March 23, 2023 at the age of 83. Born on July 31, 1939 in Cleveland, Ohio, son of the late Anna and Andrew Spisak.

Jack attended St. Wendelin Elementary and St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned a Bachelors Degree at John Carrol University in Ohio and a Master Degree at UCLA in Los Angeles, California. He also attended MIT: Seminar XXI, Massachusetts Fellow and International Studies.

Lieutenant Colonel Spisak served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1981. His overseas assignments included a tour in Berlin, Germany (1962-1963) and Vietnam (1972-1973). He served in the Infantry, Transportation Corps, and was an Army Aviator.

His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Air Medals, Bronze Star with V-Device, Senior Aviation Wings and the Purple Heart. Last duty assignments included Commanding Officer of the Combat Aviation Battalion, 4th infantry Division, Ft Carson, Colorado, followed by four years as a U.S. Army Chief of Legislative Affairs to the U.S. Senate in Washington DC.

From 1982-2005 he served as Director of Marketing and Business Development for several Defense Corporations – Rockwell International, Boeing, Litton Industries and Northrop Grumman. From 2005-2014 Jack lead his own company, Managistics LLC, which provided advice and analysis in the area of Defense International Marketing.

Since his retirement in 2014, he spent more time resuming his high school interest in Junior Achievement, Inc., a non-profit volunteer organization. Jack supported the “Learn by Doing” program to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. Jack’s advances in the program lead the operation at the local and national level.

Jack found time to volunteer for deployment to natural disaster areas with the American Red Cross, supporting both Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and Hurricane Rita in Southern Texas.

Since 2005 he has had multiple 21-day deployments driving and manning Emergency Response Vehicles that transferred “Hot” meals from the emergency kitchens to the injured community at large, the first responders, and other volunteer organizations in the affected areas.

He was a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Serving in Knights of Columbus in Northern Virginia. He established “Share Sunday”, a monthly collection of food for the needy. For the past 10 years he has led a team of fellow Knights who work at transferring tons of food a month to Catholic Charities for distribution and providing other support assistance.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years Joanne Spisak; son John Joseph Spisak III and wife Linda; daughter Cesilie Ann (Spisak) Bellone and husband T.J.; five grandchildren John Christopher, Benjamin, Cassidy, Aiden, and Taegan; and many nieces and nephews.

Service to his country and community provided him the ability to fulfill his lifelong commitment to help anyone needing his support to the “Last measure of devotion” to his wife, family, friends, and God. Jack’s passion to help his fellow man knew no bounds. He was an unsurpassed friend to countless individuals. May Jack rest in peace and may Light Perpetual shine upon him.

Memorial contributions can be sent to St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church, 37730 St. Francis Ct. Purcellville, VA 20132, or to T2T, 2361 Hylan Blvd. Staten Island, New York, 10306 or online at T2T.org.  

Arrangements were made by Hall Funeral Home, Purcellville, VA.