John K. Hudak (Jace) passed away 12/28/2025. He was born 6/18/1953 on his sister Janice’s

birthday.

Jace entered the Navy in 1971 and was stationed at the Naval Air Station Miramar, San Diego,

California. He was Aircraft Electricians Mate on the McDonnnell Douglas F4 Phantom and the

VF-51 Fighter Squadron which was an aviation unit of the United States Navy known as the

“Screaming Eagles. This was the first squadron to evaluate air-to-ground capability.

In 1975 he proudly served in the Navy on the USS Coral Sea CVA-43 nicknamed the “Agelesss

Warrior”. USS Coral Sea conducted Operation Frequent Wind in April 1975 as the final evacuation

of U.S. personnel and South Vietnamese citizens prior to the fall of Saigon. VF-51 launched from

the USS Coral Sea provided air support and combat air patrol during the evacuation process. The

ships flight deck also served as a landing zone for helicopters carrying the evacuees.

After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he worked at Rockwell International Space Division,

Downey, California from 1975 to 1978. He was Engineering Coordinator and certified solder

instructor of Electronic Assemblies for the first Space Shuttle Enterprise OV-101.

He returned to Ohio in 1978 and worked for 13 yrs at Gould/Westinghouse Ocean systems Division,

Cleveland, Ohio. He was Piezoelectric Ceramic Element and Acoustic Transducer Engineering

Manager on the MK-48 and MK-50 torpedo. From here John went on to work for Morgan Matroc

Electro Ceramics as Vice President of Operations of Piezoelectric Ceramics.

For the last 25 years, John had his own business as President, Technical Director and Piezoelectric

Consultant. He provided support to more than 450 customers throughout the United States, the

Americas, Europe and Asia. He visited numerous facilities where he quickly identified problems

with handling, testing or specifications of piezoelectric components. He created a Customer Specific

Training Program that covered everything through the entire manufacturing process. He will be

sorely missed by the Piezo Ceramics Industry for his intelligence, expertise, attention to detail,

perfection and exceptional customer service. Jace lived his life with a strong Christian belief, loved

God and believed everything and everyone in his life was a gift from Him.

John (Jace) is sadly missed by his son John Justin Hudak, sisters Janice Turley and Andrea Hudak,

daughter Jaimie Stewart of Colorado and Brenda Hilton his fiancee and soul mate of 5 years. He

was preceeded in death by his parents John and Anne Hudak from Twinsburg and Justin’s

stepmother Rose (Mendolara) Hudak. Jace loved to travel and during his professional career he

traveled the world. He and Brenda enjoyed traveling with two trips to Costa Rica. They were

looking forward to a cruise, trip abroad and finally relocating to Florida. We grieve his passing and

we all miss his quick wit, willingness to help, generosity, love of life and entertaining at his home

with family and friends.

A celebration of life is tentatively scheduled at a future date.