Obituary for Aloysius "Al" J. Polaneczky Jr.
Long-time Cincinnati resident Aloysius “Al” Polaneczky Jr. – a devoted family man, decorated Air Force veteran and commercial airline pilot, lover of bourbon and comedy, and amateur financial investor who often bested Wall Street - died on July 23, 2021 after a 15-month battle with cancer. He was 66, lived in Anderson Township for 33 years, and is survived by his wife, Darcy Polaneczky (nee Morrison) and sons Joe (Jacqui), Patrick, and Dan (Cathy) Polaneczky.
Born in 1954, Al was raised in suburban Philadelphia, PA, the oldest of nine children to devoutly Catholic parents. Upon his 1972 graduation from Bishop McDevitt High School, in Wyncote, PA, Al entered Lehigh University on a full U.S. Air Force ROTC scholarship, from which he graduated in 1976 with a degree in civil engineering. He was then commissioned as an officer and pilot in the Air Force, beginning a long, decorated military career of service, which he often credited with molding and shaping his heart, mind, and character.
In 1978, he married his college sweetheart, Darcy Morrison, of Morris Plains, NJ, and they spent the next few years moving among military bases in Washington state, Texas and New Jersey. For 6 years, the couple lived in New Jersey, where Al was based at Maguire Air Force Base, and started their family.
Al continued to serve in the Air Force Reserves as he launched his new career as a commercial pilot for Delta Airlines. In 1988, the family moved to Cincinnati, where Delta has a hub center, and raised their three boys. As parents, Al and Darcy were an especially dynamic team, bringing rigor, love, and fun to their sons academic, athletic, and social pursuits.
Al retired from Delta in 2005 and began a third career, as a computer software programmer, most recently with Atlas Air. Al deftly showed the adaptability of the technology during the pandemic, which required massive accommodation of shifting safety and quarantine protocols among the many countries the airline serves. He remained greatly involved with the company’s systems operations until shortly before his death.
In Darcy, Al found the perfect partner – a fellow homebody who shared his wicked sense of humor, love of family, and loyalty to friends. Their favorite dates together were the simplest ones – burgers and bourbon at the The Anderson Pub, joint workouts at the nearby HealthPlex, easy drives to Chicago to spend weekends with their three young, adoring grandchildren.
Throughout Al’s life, he mentored countless young pilots and co-workers, as well as his younger siblings as they grew into adulthood and created lives and careers for which they sought his wisdom and counsel. He said many times that it was a joy, privilege, and honor to hold the trust of those he mentored, that he loved helping them find in themselves what he saw in them at first sight: endless potential, unique talent, and personal courage.
Nowhere is the result of that trust more evident than in Al’s three boys, whom he loved deeply and of whom he was fiercely, unabashedly, joyously proud. It says something profound about his impact on them that his sons - Joe, 39, and twins Pat and Dan, 31 - each considered Al to be their best friend. Al often said that his favorite times with his sons were when all of them sat on the sofa, sipping bourbon, watching a football game, and talking for hours and hours about life, reveling in their love for one another.
Besides Darcy and his sons, Al is survived by three grandchildren Maria, Joey, and Eddie; a fourth (a girl) is due in January.
He is also survived by siblings Peggy (Paul Schuman) Polaneczky, Patty (Bill) Federowic, Ronnie (Noel Weyrich) Polaneczky, Michael (Janet) Polaneczky, Mary Lou (Chuck) Rittenhouse, Rosie (Bob) Jenkins, Joey (Rachel Allen) Polaneczky. He was predeceased by sister Fran (Adam) Paul in 2011. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Anderson Twp. on Saturday, October 2nd at 10:30am. Al’s remains were cremated, and they will be interred during a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, at a later date. Al’s family wishes to thank all those who offered copious love and concern throughout his illness, especially his medical caregivers who Al said inspired him with their kindness.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Al Polaneczky may be made to Cancer Family Care (https://cancerfamilycare.harnessapp.com/wv2/donate) or Hospice of Cincinnati (https://hospiceofcincinnati.org/donate/)
Born in 1954, Al was raised in suburban Philadelphia, PA, the oldest of nine children to devoutly Catholic parents. Upon his 1972 graduation from Bishop McDevitt High School, in Wyncote, PA, Al entered Lehigh University on a full U.S. Air Force ROTC scholarship, from which he graduated in 1976 with a degree in civil engineering. He was then commissioned as an officer and pilot in the Air Force, beginning a long, decorated military career of service, which he often credited with molding and shaping his heart, mind, and character.
In 1978, he married his college sweetheart, Darcy Morrison, of Morris Plains, NJ, and they spent the next few years moving among military bases in Washington state, Texas and New Jersey. For 6 years, the couple lived in New Jersey, where Al was based at Maguire Air Force Base, and started their family.
Al continued to serve in the Air Force Reserves as he launched his new career as a commercial pilot for Delta Airlines. In 1988, the family moved to Cincinnati, where Delta has a hub center, and raised their three boys. As parents, Al and Darcy were an especially dynamic team, bringing rigor, love, and fun to their sons academic, athletic, and social pursuits.
Al retired from Delta in 2005 and began a third career, as a computer software programmer, most recently with Atlas Air. Al deftly showed the adaptability of the technology during the pandemic, which required massive accommodation of shifting safety and quarantine protocols among the many countries the airline serves. He remained greatly involved with the company’s systems operations until shortly before his death.
In Darcy, Al found the perfect partner – a fellow homebody who shared his wicked sense of humor, love of family, and loyalty to friends. Their favorite dates together were the simplest ones – burgers and bourbon at the The Anderson Pub, joint workouts at the nearby HealthPlex, easy drives to Chicago to spend weekends with their three young, adoring grandchildren.
Throughout Al’s life, he mentored countless young pilots and co-workers, as well as his younger siblings as they grew into adulthood and created lives and careers for which they sought his wisdom and counsel. He said many times that it was a joy, privilege, and honor to hold the trust of those he mentored, that he loved helping them find in themselves what he saw in them at first sight: endless potential, unique talent, and personal courage.
Nowhere is the result of that trust more evident than in Al’s three boys, whom he loved deeply and of whom he was fiercely, unabashedly, joyously proud. It says something profound about his impact on them that his sons - Joe, 39, and twins Pat and Dan, 31 - each considered Al to be their best friend. Al often said that his favorite times with his sons were when all of them sat on the sofa, sipping bourbon, watching a football game, and talking for hours and hours about life, reveling in their love for one another.
Besides Darcy and his sons, Al is survived by three grandchildren Maria, Joey, and Eddie; a fourth (a girl) is due in January.
He is also survived by siblings Peggy (Paul Schuman) Polaneczky, Patty (Bill) Federowic, Ronnie (Noel Weyrich) Polaneczky, Michael (Janet) Polaneczky, Mary Lou (Chuck) Rittenhouse, Rosie (Bob) Jenkins, Joey (Rachel Allen) Polaneczky. He was predeceased by sister Fran (Adam) Paul in 2011. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Anderson Twp. on Saturday, October 2nd at 10:30am. Al’s remains were cremated, and they will be interred during a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, at a later date. Al’s family wishes to thank all those who offered copious love and concern throughout his illness, especially his medical caregivers who Al said inspired him with their kindness.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Al Polaneczky may be made to Cancer Family Care (https://cancerfamilycare.harnessapp.com/wv2/donate) or Hospice of Cincinnati (https://hospiceofcincinnati.org/donate/)