BELLEVILLE Michael D. Drake, P.E., Captain U.S. Army Ret., of Belleville, NJ, died on Friday, April 3, at University Hospital, in Newark, NJ. He was born in Donora, PA and was 81 years old. Graduating from Donora Senior HS in 1946, he attended the United States Coast Guard Academy and was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Class of1954, retiring from the Army after 20 years of service. He attended Columbia University on the GI Bill and received a Masters of Science in Civil Engineering from Stevens Institute in1968. He was the Director of Structural Engineering at URS Consultants in New York City, until he retired in 1996. Michael showed his love and compassion for his friends, humanity and animals through his dedication to Saints Peter and Paul Church, in Jersey City, NJ and St. Vladimir Seminary in Yonkers, NY, and as a volunteer at the People for Animals clinic in Hillside, NJ. Michael was everyone's "goto man" when there was a problem to solve. He was the loving brother of Stephen D. Drake and the late William Drahushak, Andrew D. Drake, Harry D. Drake, John D. Drake, andAnne DiPaolo. He was the cherished uncle of 21 nieces and nephews and many great and great-great-nieces and nephews who will miss him dearly. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Service, at10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, April 8 at Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church, 109 Grand Street, Jersey City, NJ. The family will receive visitors at the Church on Tuesday, from 2:00 to4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Parastas, Tuesday, at 7:30 p.m. Interment will take place after a graveside service by Fr. Igor Soroka, on Thursday, April 9, at 11:00 a.m., at Monongahela Memorial Cemetery, Monongahela, PA.
Published in The Jersey Journal on 4/6/2009
West Point Obituary: Michael Drahushak "Mike" Drake was one of the older members of the Class of 1954. He was born on Mar 12, 1928, in Donora, PA, into a family of five brothers and one sister. An excellent student, he graduated from Donora Senior High School in 1946. He went on to accumulate a broad multiservice background before arriving at West Point. He was in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1946 before going on to attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. In addition, he had classes at New London Junior College and the University of Pittsburgh. As a result, Mike entered West Point well prepared for academics. He was appointed to USMA by his Congressman Frank Buchanan.
While at the Academy, Mike was well respected, achieving the corporal and then lieutenant cadet ranks. He kept busy and demonstrated his versatility as a member of the Pistol Club, the German Club, the Ordnance Club, and the Chess Club. After Christmas leave in 1951, Mike had the sad responsibility, along with roommate Bill Wallace, to fly to San Francisco and represent West Point at a classmate's funeral. Their roommate, Ken MacArthur, was killed in a plane crash returning from Christmas leave. Mike was recognized by his friends for his organizational skills, sincerity, honesty, and intellect. On graduating, he selected the Signal Corps as his career choice. In his last assignment in the Army, he served with Headquarters First Army from 1958 to 1960 and resigned as a captain in 1960.
In 1961 after leaving the military, Mike went to work as a civil engineer at Edwards and Kelsey Engineering. In 1968, Mike received his Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Stevens Institute. He became an accomplished structural engineer and was licensed as a professional engineer. In 1974, he also served as an adjunct professor of civil engineering at Newark College. In 1986, he was made Chief of Structural Engineering of the Kaiser Engineering firm, and in 1988 he became Director of Structural Engineering at URS Consultants in New York City. He retired in 1996.
Mike showed his love and compassion for his friends, humanity, and animals through his dedication to Saints Peter and Paul Church in Jersey City, NJ, and Saint Vladimir Seminary in Yonkers, NY, and as a trusted volunteer at the People for Animals Clinic in Hillside, NJ. He is remembered at the clinic as their ‘go-to man' for problem solving.
Mike died on Apr 3, 2009. His brothers and sister are also all deceased, but he lives on in the loving memory of his nieces, nephews, and those of us who have been a part of his life.
Never married. No descendants.
Published in The Jersey Journal on 4/6/2009
West Point Obituary: Michael Drahushak "Mike" Drake was one of the older members of the Class of 1954. He was born on Mar 12, 1928, in Donora, PA, into a family of five brothers and one sister. An excellent student, he graduated from Donora Senior High School in 1946. He went on to accumulate a broad multiservice background before arriving at West Point. He was in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1946 before going on to attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. In addition, he had classes at New London Junior College and the University of Pittsburgh. As a result, Mike entered West Point well prepared for academics. He was appointed to USMA by his Congressman Frank Buchanan.
While at the Academy, Mike was well respected, achieving the corporal and then lieutenant cadet ranks. He kept busy and demonstrated his versatility as a member of the Pistol Club, the German Club, the Ordnance Club, and the Chess Club. After Christmas leave in 1951, Mike had the sad responsibility, along with roommate Bill Wallace, to fly to San Francisco and represent West Point at a classmate's funeral. Their roommate, Ken MacArthur, was killed in a plane crash returning from Christmas leave. Mike was recognized by his friends for his organizational skills, sincerity, honesty, and intellect. On graduating, he selected the Signal Corps as his career choice. In his last assignment in the Army, he served with Headquarters First Army from 1958 to 1960 and resigned as a captain in 1960.
In 1961 after leaving the military, Mike went to work as a civil engineer at Edwards and Kelsey Engineering. In 1968, Mike received his Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Stevens Institute. He became an accomplished structural engineer and was licensed as a professional engineer. In 1974, he also served as an adjunct professor of civil engineering at Newark College. In 1986, he was made Chief of Structural Engineering of the Kaiser Engineering firm, and in 1988 he became Director of Structural Engineering at URS Consultants in New York City. He retired in 1996.
Mike showed his love and compassion for his friends, humanity, and animals through his dedication to Saints Peter and Paul Church in Jersey City, NJ, and Saint Vladimir Seminary in Yonkers, NY, and as a trusted volunteer at the People for Animals Clinic in Hillside, NJ. He is remembered at the clinic as their ‘go-to man' for problem solving.
Mike died on Apr 3, 2009. His brothers and sister are also all deceased, but he lives on in the loving memory of his nieces, nephews, and those of us who have been a part of his life.
Never married. No descendants.
BELLEVILLE Michael D. Drake, P.E., Captain U.S. Army Ret., of Belleville, NJ, died on Friday, April 3, at University Hospital, in Newark, NJ. He was born in Donora, PA and was 81 years old. Graduating from Donora Senior HS in 1946, he attended the United States Coast Guard Academy and was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Class of1954, retiring from the Army after 20 years of service. He attended Columbia University on the GI Bill and received a Masters of Science in Civil Engineering from Stevens Institute in1968. He was the Director of Structural Engineering at URS Consultants in New York City, until he retired in 1996. Michael showed his love and compassion for his friends, humanity and animals through his dedication to Saints Peter and Paul Church, in Jersey City, NJ and St. Vladimir Seminary in Yonkers, NY, and as a volunteer at the People for Animals clinic in Hillside, NJ. Michael was everyone's "goto man" when there was a problem to solve. He was the loving brother of Stephen D. Drake and the late William Drahushak, Andrew D. Drake, Harry D. Drake, John D. Drake, andAnne DiPaolo. He was the cherished uncle of 21 nieces and nephews and many great and great-great-nieces and nephews who will miss him dearly. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Service, at10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, April 8 at Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church, 109 Grand Street, Jersey City, NJ. The family will receive visitors at the Church on Tuesday, from 2:00 to4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Parastas, Tuesday, at 7:30 p.m. Interment will take place after a graveside service by Fr. Igor Soroka, on Thursday, April 9, at 11:00 a.m., at Monongahela Memorial Cemetery, Monongahela, PA.
Published in The Jersey Journal on 4/6/2009
West Point Obituary: Michael Drahushak "Mike" Drake was one of the older members of the Class of 1954. He was born on Mar 12, 1928, in Donora, PA, into a family of five brothers and one sister. An excellent student, he graduated from Donora Senior High School in 1946. He went on to accumulate a broad multiservice background before arriving at West Point. He was in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1946 before going on to attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. In addition, he had classes at New London Junior College and the University of Pittsburgh. As a result, Mike entered West Point well prepared for academics. He was appointed to USMA by his Congressman Frank Buchanan.
While at the Academy, Mike was well respected, achieving the corporal and then lieutenant cadet ranks. He kept busy and demonstrated his versatility as a member of the Pistol Club, the German Club, the Ordnance Club, and the Chess Club. After Christmas leave in 1951, Mike had the sad responsibility, along with roommate Bill Wallace, to fly to San Francisco and represent West Point at a classmate's funeral. Their roommate, Ken MacArthur, was killed in a plane crash returning from Christmas leave. Mike was recognized by his friends for his organizational skills, sincerity, honesty, and intellect. On graduating, he selected the Signal Corps as his career choice. In his last assignment in the Army, he served with Headquarters First Army from 1958 to 1960 and resigned as a captain in 1960.
In 1961 after leaving the military, Mike went to work as a civil engineer at Edwards and Kelsey Engineering. In 1968, Mike received his Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Stevens Institute. He became an accomplished structural engineer and was licensed as a professional engineer. In 1974, he also served as an adjunct professor of civil engineering at Newark College. In 1986, he was made Chief of Structural Engineering of the Kaiser Engineering firm, and in 1988 he became Director of Structural Engineering at URS Consultants in New York City. He retired in 1996.
Mike showed his love and compassion for his friends, humanity, and animals through his dedication to Saints Peter and Paul Church in Jersey City, NJ, and Saint Vladimir Seminary in Yonkers, NY, and as a trusted volunteer at the People for Animals Clinic in Hillside, NJ. He is remembered at the clinic as their ‘go-to man' for problem solving.
Mike died on Apr 3, 2009. His brothers and sister are also all deceased, but he lives on in the loving memory of his nieces, nephews, and those of us who have been a part of his life.
Never married. No descendants.
Published in The Jersey Journal on 4/6/2009
West Point Obituary: Michael Drahushak "Mike" Drake was one of the older members of the Class of 1954. He was born on Mar 12, 1928, in Donora, PA, into a family of five brothers and one sister. An excellent student, he graduated from Donora Senior High School in 1946. He went on to accumulate a broad multiservice background before arriving at West Point. He was in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1946 before going on to attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. In addition, he had classes at New London Junior College and the University of Pittsburgh. As a result, Mike entered West Point well prepared for academics. He was appointed to USMA by his Congressman Frank Buchanan.
While at the Academy, Mike was well respected, achieving the corporal and then lieutenant cadet ranks. He kept busy and demonstrated his versatility as a member of the Pistol Club, the German Club, the Ordnance Club, and the Chess Club. After Christmas leave in 1951, Mike had the sad responsibility, along with roommate Bill Wallace, to fly to San Francisco and represent West Point at a classmate's funeral. Their roommate, Ken MacArthur, was killed in a plane crash returning from Christmas leave. Mike was recognized by his friends for his organizational skills, sincerity, honesty, and intellect. On graduating, he selected the Signal Corps as his career choice. In his last assignment in the Army, he served with Headquarters First Army from 1958 to 1960 and resigned as a captain in 1960.
In 1961 after leaving the military, Mike went to work as a civil engineer at Edwards and Kelsey Engineering. In 1968, Mike received his Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Stevens Institute. He became an accomplished structural engineer and was licensed as a professional engineer. In 1974, he also served as an adjunct professor of civil engineering at Newark College. In 1986, he was made Chief of Structural Engineering of the Kaiser Engineering firm, and in 1988 he became Director of Structural Engineering at URS Consultants in New York City. He retired in 1996.
Mike showed his love and compassion for his friends, humanity, and animals through his dedication to Saints Peter and Paul Church in Jersey City, NJ, and Saint Vladimir Seminary in Yonkers, NY, and as a trusted volunteer at the People for Animals Clinic in Hillside, NJ. He is remembered at the clinic as their ‘go-to man' for problem solving.
Mike died on Apr 3, 2009. His brothers and sister are also all deceased, but he lives on in the loving memory of his nieces, nephews, and those of us who have been a part of his life.
Never married. No descendants.
