Arthur Serota

SEROTA, Mr. Arthur Kalamazoo Passed away Tuesday morning, April 14, 2009, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Battle Creek, MI. Arthur was born in Chicago in 1922, the youngest child of David and Sylvia Tillie Stromberg Serota. David Serota was a recognized specialty tailor during the early part of the past century and traveled throughout the country in the course of his trade, becoming a close friend of the noted author Jack London. Growing up, Arthur lived in New York City, Philadelphia, and Virginia Beach, Virginia. The family settled in Jackson, Michigan where he graduated from Jackson High School in 1939, lettering his last two years as a lineman on the football team. Within a month of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Arthur joined the United States Marine Corps. He always stated that the reason he joined the Corps was that he liked their dress uniform but in the 3½ years that he served, he never got to wear one. Arthur fought at the battles of Guadalcanal where he was one of the first marines to arrive, Cape Gloucester, New Britain, and Peleliu, Palau. During the month-long battle to take Peleliu, he was wounded on two separate occasions, subsequently receiving two Purple Hearts. While serving in the Pacific, he met Jean Olive Williams in Melbourne, Australia, marrying her in 1943. Two sons were born out of their marriage, David George Serota born in 1945 and Stephen Mark Serota born in 1956. A machinist by trade, Arthur was always fascinated by flying and after being discharged from the Marine Corps in late 1945, he learned to fly and bought his first airplane, a retired army BT-13A. He joined the Civilian Air Patrol CAP and for a number of years flew out of Miller Field on Staten Island, New York. In 1954, he took his love of flying a giant step further when he was hired as a civil service flight instructor to the United States Army, with assignment to Camp later Fort Rucker in southeast Alabama. From 1954 through 1970, Arthur trained hundreds of officer-candidate pilots in multiple fixed-wing aircraft, including many pilots from other nations. Many of these pilots were assigned to action in Viet Nam upon completion of this training. During this same period of time, Arthur became president of the local chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees AFGE, later also serving for a number of years as Alabama president of AFGE. In 1970, he retired from the civil service and with wife and youngest son, moved to Longboat Key, Florida. Over the next 29 years, Arthur was involved in numerous activities including founding and operating a driving school for senior citizens but for the most part, his love of flying kept him at or around the airport where he owned several different airplanes and gave flying lessons. In 1999, Arthur and Jean moved to Kalamazoo to be closer to son David and his wife Tammy. Since coming to Kalamazoo, he served as a doyen at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo, where he gave tours and especially liked to talk with other veterans about his experience in the South Pacific, especially Guadalcanal. Arthur was a man of high principles who always expected the best out of himself and out of other people. He could be very critical and demanding but behind that persona was a man that liked to laugh, had a soft heart, and loved his family and country very much. His dear wife of 62 years, Jean Serota preceded him in death 2005. Arthur is survived by sons David and Stephen Serota, both of Kalamazoo, daughter-in-law Tammy Serota of Kalamazoo, and step-grandchildren Katlyn Roberts and Rebecca Edson of Kalamazoo, and Brian Vickers of Chesapeake, Virginia. Cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation at the funeral home. A military ceremony and memorial service will be held 1:00 Thursday afternoon, April 23, 2009 at Fort Custer National Cemetery, with Rabbi Harvey Spivak, officiating. Those planning to attend the ceremony are asked to meet in the cemetery's funeral assembly area by 12:45 pm. Contributions in memory of Arthur may be sent to The Air Zoo, 6151 Portage Rd., Portage, MI 49002. Arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th St. www.langelands.com 269-343-1508