Ervin "John" Pierucki, Capt. USN (Ret.)

Ervin “John” Pierucki, Capt. USN Ret., age 95, passed away Monday, 30 September 2019. John enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942 at age 18 and was initially assigned to a minesweeper in the Atlantic. Upon later completion of a bachelor’s degree in Naval Science and his commissioning as Ensign, he completed two more shipboard assignments as Navigator and Communications Officer. After Russian language submersion training in Wash. DC from 1948 to 1949, John served in various Naval Security Group HQ and field assignments decrypting and translating Russian naval and air communications. His cryptologic background and Russian language expertise then led him to complete various cryptologic tours of duty at National Security Agency HQ, Ft. Meade, MD as well as at number of overseas field sites. John completed the SERE (survival, escape, resistance, & evasion) course in San Diego prior to beginning a sensitive assignment in Vietnam as the U.S. Defense Department Special Representative under Gen. Abrams. In 1970, John was awarded the Legion of Merit by the U.S. President for his exemplary performance, leadership, and technical support to further U.S. military objectives in the Republic of Vietnam.

After 30 years of meritorious service in the U.S. Navy, John retired to Albuquerque, NM in 1972. He was a member of multiple Rotary clubs, most recently Rotary Club of Albuquerque Del Norte, where he was deeply involved in the Club’s and in Rotary International’s (RI) philanthropic work for 45 years. As a member of RI’s Arch Klump Society, John distinguished himself with major contributions to support RI foreign student exchange programs and humanitarian assistance programs worldwide, such as the eradication of polio, disaster relief, and illiteracy.

John is survived by his daughter, Angelina Louise Pierucki of Finksburg, MD and his son, Eric John Pierucki of Volta Redonda, Brazil. He is also survived by his sister, Terry Barnes of Gulfport, MI, as well as many nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Margaret Louise, his daughter, Dr. Christina Elena Pierucki, and his son, Paul Alexander Pierucki.

A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, 16 October 2019, 11:00 a.m., at FRENCH - Wyoming.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial donations be made to one of the following:
The Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collections Center Dr., Chicago, Illinois 60693 or http://www.rotary.org/give or Del Norte Rotary Foundation, P. O. Box 3951, Albuquerque, NM 87190.