Donald Eugene Poldy
January 9, 1940 ~ January 1, 2023
Donald Eugene Poldy, 82, died peacefully on January 1, 2023, at Fairfax Hospital after a long battle with cardiac and pulmonary disease. He was surrounded by his loving and devoted family.
Don was born January 9, 1940, in the coal mining town of LaBelle, Pa., to George and Margaret Whiteko Poldy. Don was the oldest of their four boys. He was predeceased by his brother Paul and is survived by his brothers Frank Poldy, of Dayton, Ohio, and Mark Poldy of Sharon, Pa.
Don spent his early childhood in the area around Brownsville, Pa., before his family moved to Sharpsville, Pa. The family lived on a small farm until his father joined the US Navy Submarine Service during World War II. Don spent the rest of his childhood in Pennsylvania’s Shenango Valley and graduated from Hickory Township High School in 1957. Following high school graduation, Don enlisted in the US Navy and served as a bombardier navigator on the Ticonderoga.
Following his discharge from the Navy, Don was hired by Simplex Time Recorder Company in Youngstown, Ohio. In 1974, Simplex transferred Don to their Washington, DC, office, and the Poldy family settled in Vienna, Va. It was then, utilizing his Navy training and experience, that he developed extensive skills in electronics and security systems which led him to eventually establish his own aviation consulting company, Big Sky, Inc. He served as President and CEO of Big Sky where he mentored many young men in the field. He is highly respected and admired by the group of his employees whose careers he helped to launch. Don continued to work as an aviation consultant until retiring last year.
In 1960, Don married the former Diane Bartalon and together they had two children, Gregory James and Megan Rae (Rosia). Diane and Don divorced in 2003, but continued to have a warm friendship, grandparenting their four grandchildren, Andrew and William Rosia, and Allyson and Matthew Poldy. Don was a loving and proud father, coaching his children’s soccer teams for many years. He was an enthusiastic fan at all of his grandchildren’s sports and extracurricular activities, and he deeply cherished his daughter-in-law, Janelle Daniels Poldy, and son-in-law, Mark Rosia. Don gave his whole heart to his family.
Don’s other passion was fishing. It started as a young man where he would often stop on his way home from work, still in his suit and tie, grab his fishing rod from his car trunk, and spend an hour or so fishing for crappie and Northern Pike in the local streams and Pymatuning Reservoir. He also became an avid ice fisherman along with his brother-in-law, Neil Bartalon. They spent many winter hours and days on Lake Erie “out on the ice.” Don even designed and made his own ice fishing rods. After moving to Virginia, Don spent weekends fishing the Occoquan River and the Chesapeake Bay.
His passion for fishing eventually led to relocating to Key West, Fla., where Don purchased his fishing boat, the Energizer, and became part of the local saltwater fishing community. He participated in fishing tournaments and enjoyed sharing his passion for fishing with his grandchildren. He made what was intended to be a temporary move back to Virginia for business reasons, but his health prevented him from returning to his beloved Key West.
He and his son Greg began going on annual long-range tuna fishing trips on the Royal Star in 1998, where Don was a favorite with fellow anglers and the crew. Don and Greg continued this father-son activity until 2021 when Don’s health prevented him from going any longer. Greg keeps the tradition alive and continues the annual trip.
Friends, family, and co-workers will miss Don’s wry sense of humor, his ability to always entertain and amuse us, his generous spirit, and his devotion and commitment to family, friendship, and fishing.
Don was a man of the seas from his Navy service to his passion for fishing. He has requested cremation so his ashes can be scattered in the Atlantic Ocean in Key West and in the Pacific Ocean.
A celebration of Don’s life will be held in the chapel at Church of the Holy Comforter, 543 Beulah Rd, Vienna, VA 22180, on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 3 pm.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Don’s memory to the American Heart Association.
Don was born January 9, 1940, in the coal mining town of LaBelle, Pa., to George and Margaret Whiteko Poldy. Don was the oldest of their four boys. He was predeceased by his brother Paul and is survived by his brothers Frank Poldy, of Dayton, Ohio, and Mark Poldy of Sharon, Pa.
Don spent his early childhood in the area around Brownsville, Pa., before his family moved to Sharpsville, Pa. The family lived on a small farm until his father joined the US Navy Submarine Service during World War II. Don spent the rest of his childhood in Pennsylvania’s Shenango Valley and graduated from Hickory Township High School in 1957. Following high school graduation, Don enlisted in the US Navy and served as a bombardier navigator on the Ticonderoga.
Following his discharge from the Navy, Don was hired by Simplex Time Recorder Company in Youngstown, Ohio. In 1974, Simplex transferred Don to their Washington, DC, office, and the Poldy family settled in Vienna, Va. It was then, utilizing his Navy training and experience, that he developed extensive skills in electronics and security systems which led him to eventually establish his own aviation consulting company, Big Sky, Inc. He served as President and CEO of Big Sky where he mentored many young men in the field. He is highly respected and admired by the group of his employees whose careers he helped to launch. Don continued to work as an aviation consultant until retiring last year.
In 1960, Don married the former Diane Bartalon and together they had two children, Gregory James and Megan Rae (Rosia). Diane and Don divorced in 2003, but continued to have a warm friendship, grandparenting their four grandchildren, Andrew and William Rosia, and Allyson and Matthew Poldy. Don was a loving and proud father, coaching his children’s soccer teams for many years. He was an enthusiastic fan at all of his grandchildren’s sports and extracurricular activities, and he deeply cherished his daughter-in-law, Janelle Daniels Poldy, and son-in-law, Mark Rosia. Don gave his whole heart to his family.
Don’s other passion was fishing. It started as a young man where he would often stop on his way home from work, still in his suit and tie, grab his fishing rod from his car trunk, and spend an hour or so fishing for crappie and Northern Pike in the local streams and Pymatuning Reservoir. He also became an avid ice fisherman along with his brother-in-law, Neil Bartalon. They spent many winter hours and days on Lake Erie “out on the ice.” Don even designed and made his own ice fishing rods. After moving to Virginia, Don spent weekends fishing the Occoquan River and the Chesapeake Bay.
His passion for fishing eventually led to relocating to Key West, Fla., where Don purchased his fishing boat, the Energizer, and became part of the local saltwater fishing community. He participated in fishing tournaments and enjoyed sharing his passion for fishing with his grandchildren. He made what was intended to be a temporary move back to Virginia for business reasons, but his health prevented him from returning to his beloved Key West.
He and his son Greg began going on annual long-range tuna fishing trips on the Royal Star in 1998, where Don was a favorite with fellow anglers and the crew. Don and Greg continued this father-son activity until 2021 when Don’s health prevented him from going any longer. Greg keeps the tradition alive and continues the annual trip.
Friends, family, and co-workers will miss Don’s wry sense of humor, his ability to always entertain and amuse us, his generous spirit, and his devotion and commitment to family, friendship, and fishing.
Don was a man of the seas from his Navy service to his passion for fishing. He has requested cremation so his ashes can be scattered in the Atlantic Ocean in Key West and in the Pacific Ocean.
A celebration of Don’s life will be held in the chapel at Church of the Holy Comforter, 543 Beulah Rd, Vienna, VA 22180, on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 3 pm.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Don’s memory to the American Heart Association.
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He was the best next door neighbor and youth group advisor with Diane. He always remembered my birthday as I do his. I was looking forward to wish him Happy Birthday. I am so sad. Peace be with you my dear friend and to his sweet family as well. Remember you can’t see him in his camouflage !?you were a good man in my life, especially when I needed to know there were some. Not perfect, certainly, but who is?❤️
My deepest condolences to the Poldy family. I met Don many years ago when he was the owner of Big Sky and will always remember his kindness and humility, he was truly a gentle soul. I attended a Christmas party for his employees one year and they had such respect for him and loved working with him. That’s a true testament of the man that he was. We shared good times, good food, good spirits and laughter and I was blessed to know him. I know he had some health issues through the years but tackled them head on with hope and courage. Rest in peace my special friend! Robin Corle Bast
Chief was the best fisherman in the lot of us. He will forever be in my heart and admired for his angling achievements. More than anything for his friendship and mentoring. I know that he is awaiting that bite as we speak and know that he is forever watching those old westerns. Love you Chief !!
Those who have the pleasure of knowing Don, like myself, will miss him dearly. Don will be remembered as one who left no regrets as he always lived his life to fullest. I was lucky to have met Don right after the 9/11 and known him for over 20 years. We have had a number of memorable experiences where we were working together. I have great memories from our years of knowing him and being his friend. I will miss Don for the man that he is… always being positive even in the grimmest times, always able to crack a laugh in even the most awkward situations and giving you the shirt off his back to save the day.
Don was one of the most selfless people I’ve ever had the privileged to know. He was a mentor from the day I first met him in 1995 until we parted ways in 2014. I met Don while working at Systech Group in Reston, VA. Within the first six months I was working late nights and weekends with Don, usually trying to finish a project or three that got lost in his inbox. I remember, he would say “hey Dave what are you doing tonight? or this weekend?” But Don was one of those guys that stayed all night/weekend with you until the project was finished. I developed a tremendous respect for his work ethic, attention to detail, and his professionalism in all he did. His confidence was contagious. A few years later when he asked me to consider working for him at Big Sky Incorporated, it was an easy decision and I have never regretted saying yes. Don provided me with endless opportunity to learn and grow and his door was always open if I had a question or needed advice about anything personal or professional. He made me feel as though he cared about me and my situation and always had time for me when I needed it. He was instrumental in helping me complete a BS degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from ODU. I could not have done it without his support and encouragement through a long 9+ years. I will never forget the time he took mentoring me and the example he set in everything he did professionally! I love you Don and I’ve missed you for years now, but I will never forget you! Rest in Peace!