Colonel Michael A. Nassr

Colonel Michael Anthony Nassr

December 2, 1931 - October 31, 2015

Colonel Michael A. Nassr, USAF (Ret.), passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 31, 2015. He was 83 years old.

Michael (Mike) was born on December 2, 1931, and raised in Toledo, Ohio. Upon graduation from Central Catholic High School (Toledo, Ohio), he attended one year at St. Joseph’s College in Indiana. He then enrolled in the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1954.

Mike served 27 years in the US Air Force. He was the first person to solo a jet without having piloted a propeller plane and compiled over 10,000 military flying hours. He served in Berlin when the Berlin Wall went up and flew airlift missions in support of the Hungarian Revolution, the Congo Crisis, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. For four years he flew missions in Vietnam while stationed in Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam [459^th, 1969] and Thailand.

Returning from Vietnam in 1970, Mike served at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, as engine program manager for the Air Force’s Air Launched Cruise Missile and as Director of System Engineering for Aeronautical Systems Division. In 1975 he became the Air Force’s Director of Manufacturing in Washington DC. At the time of his retirement in 1981 he was Chief of Staff of the Air Force's Electronic Systems Division in Massachusetts. He received graduate degrees at the University of Southern California and at Western New England College. Military awards include three Legions of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and eight Air Medals.

Mike’s post-military career with Digital Equipment Corporation was to manage the company’s first laser printer program, in a joint development with Ricoh Corporation of Japan. For five years he lived in France as Digital’s Video Manufacturing Manager for Europe. Mike re-retired in 1992 from Digital and entered into his third career as a Historian, freelance writer, editor, and management consultant. He quickly set to work writing Cold War Warriors, the most complete and detailed history of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1954.

In 1999, Mike produced a Fiftieth Anniversary History Book on the Central Catholic High School (CCHS) Class of 1949 and established the Class of 1949 CCHS Endowed Scholarship Fund. He belonged to St. Andrew’s Parish in Roswell, Georgia, where he was a lector, usher, Eucharistic Administrator, and membership director of the St. Andrew Council Knights of Columbus. He was also on the Communications Committee of the Atlanta St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Aside from Mike’s many accomplishments and contributions, he enjoyed spending time with his family, extended family and friends. He created a beautiful life and legacy with Bobbie, his bride of 57 years. He enjoyed reading and writing, playing softball, golf and tennis. When he wasn’t documenting history, you could often find his expressive view in many editorial sections of National Newspapers.

Mike is survived by his loving wife, Bobbie; their three children, Michael A. Nassr Jr., Bonnie Lundy, Shelly and her husband Chuck Santos; eight grandchildren, Nathaniel, Alexandra, Juliana, Morgan, Michael, Audrey, Tyler and Austin; his sister, Melanie Noe, and his brother, Father Martin Nassr. He was preceded in death by his loving parents Nap & Florence Nassr, and his sisters Miriam Kurek and Molly Leonard.

Mike will be missed by the many who loved him.

Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery, date to be determined.

Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society 678-735-5500.