Theodore “Ted” Potochniak, born on September 10, 1928, in Binghamton, NY to parents, Michael and Pauline (Pankow) Potochniak, passed away on February 24, 2025, at age 96. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to many. He lived his life fully within the community in which he was born.
Ted served in the US Army Air Forces with the 19th Air Supply Division from 1946 to 1949, and was stationed in Guam, Iwo Jima and Tinian where he supervised multiple warehouses as a Stores Keeper following WWII.
Ted was the first of his family to go to college when he enrolled at Clarkson College of Technology in Potsdam, NY under the GI Bill. He graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering and enjoyed a distinguished 30-year career with IBM Corporation in Endicott, NY. He was a manager in the Quality and Reliability Department when he retired in 1984.
Ted was a member of the Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church in Binghamton, NY where he sang in the choir. He later attended St. James Church in Johnson City, NY.
Ted married Marian Komack, the love of his life for 72 years, in 1952. He was a fully engaged husband and father who always encouraged his children in their academic, athletic, and personal interests. He took his family on regular vacations to the beach in Cape May, NJ. He took his sons to many NY Yankee games and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and attending their soccer games, basketball games, birthday parties and school activities.
Ted was a “jack-of-all-trades” and could take apart and fix almost anything, including cars, electronics, and appliances. He could roof and side a house, clean a carburetor, untangle a fishing line and repair a watch. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t tackle including rebuilding an Oldsmobile engine and repairing a boat motor without any instructions.
Among Ted’s hobbies were bowling, fishing, golfing, auto repair, bird watching and playing cards. He enjoyed his annual trip to Little Rideau Lake in Ontario, Canada fishing for Walleye with his boys and his father-in-law Frank, and his many weekends trout fishing and ice fishing locally with his children. He participated in several bowling leagues with friends and bowled a perfect 300 game. Shortly after retirement, he took up golf and made a rare hole-in-one.
Ted’s quick wit, endearing sense of humor, and natural warmth and charisma lit up a room. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need at a moment’s notice. In addition to his hobbies, some of the other things he enjoyed were backyard grilling, mushroom picking, taking home movies, making cherries jubilee for his family, finding a “special deal” and revealing a winning scratch-off lottery ticket. He would always entertain his family at Christmas time by singing traditional Ukrainian songs.
Ted was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Pauline, his brothers Michael “Puddy” and Nicholas, and his sisters Helen, Anne, Katherine and Josephine. He is survived by his loving wife Marian, his sons Mark (Bernadette) Potochniak and David (Cecilia) Rivers, his daughters Laura (John) Hagan and Sharon (Mark) Burdick, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Our family would like to thank the staffs of Home Instead, Elizabeth Church Campus, Lourdes Hospital and Wilson Hospital for their compassionate care of our father. We are grateful for their kindness.
Per Ted’s wishes, the family will hold a private Celebration of Life at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Ted's preferred charity of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or a charity of your choice.
