John Bosak, who was at the forefront of Pennsylvania's technological revolution for almost 40 years, died at his home in Swatara Township. He was 61.

He graduated from Millersville University with a degree in Earth and Space Science, planning to be a teacher. Instead, he discovered a passion for broadcast engineering. Bosak, WITF-TV director of engineering and PAB's 2002 "Television Broadcaster of the Year," worked as a broadcast engineer from the days of black-and-white television through the evolving digital information age.

He started his career at WHP, Harrisburg's CBS affiliate. In 1967, he was hired by WITF-TV, the area's public broadcasting station, and radio station 89.5 FM. Over the years, he served as assistant chief engineer, operations supervisor, program manager, station announcer and Director of Engineering.

Bosak produced Pennsylvania Outdoors and America Outdoors and was the first television producer invited to join the Outdoor Writers Association.

As broadcast chairman of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Broadcast Emergency Communications Committee, Bosak helped to establish Pennsylvania's deployment of the emergency broadcast system providing necessary communications between emergency officials and the public through the cooperation of the statewide broadcasters of Pennsylvania.

He later led the team of WITF engineers which, on Aug. 26, 1998, activated Pennsylvania's first digital high definition station, WITF DT.

He spent 35 years as house sound technician at Hershey Theater and 15 years as Chamber Hill Boy Scout Troop 202 leader. He was program chairman for the Society of Broadcaster Engineers Chapter 43; served on the planning committee for The Whitaker Center for Science and The Arts; and was a founding member of St. Catherine Laboure Roman Catholic Church in Swatara Twp., where he served as a special minister for many years; and was a lifetime member of the Lawnton Fire Company.

He was the recipient of several awards over the years including the Tri-County Association of the Blind David E. Sill Lifetime Achievement Award and the Swatara Twp. Honor Roll Citizenship Award.

While battling cancer, Bosak continued to work. His fondness for the people he worked with and his role in the industry inspired him every day.

He loved nature, star gazing, trains and trolleys, his family and friends, Coxton Lake, and his dog, Misty.

He was the son of the former John M. and Phillippine Bosak, and the son-in-law of David E. and Mary Elizabeth Davidson Jr.

Surviving are his wife, Beverly Davidson Bosak and his former wife, Loretta Havens Gelbaugh; three sons, David C. Bosak and his wife Shelley Schwarz Bosak; Dr. Michael D. Bosak, and Steven P. Bosak, all of Harrisburg; two stepsons, David Cernugel of Harrisburg and Rodger A. Helwig and his wife Laurie Walker Helwig, of Mechanicsburg; two sisters, Barbara Greenwood and her husband Robert Greenwood, of Paxtang and Susan Schenk and her husband Dr. John Schenk, of Oregon; two step-grandchildren, Adriana Nell and Andrew Helwig; and nieces and nephews, Kathryn, Andrew, and John Greenwood and Robbie Davidson and Lisa Davidson Smith.

He was godfather to Rocco DiBacco of Harrisburg, Teddi Irwin and Greg Duda of Texas ad Stevie Duda & Jeff Duda, both of North Carolina. His godmother, Mary Basecki, of Coal Township, also survives him.

Memorial Service and Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Catherine Laboure 'Church at 4000 Derry Street at 11:00 a.m. on Monday in his church. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery, West Hanover Township.

Neill Funeral Home, Harrisburg
Harrisburg Patriot News 27 Jul 2002

John Bosak, who was at the forefront of Pennsylvania's technological revolution for almost 40 years, died at his home in Swatara Township. He was 61.

He graduated from Millersville University with a degree in Earth and Space Science, planning to be a teacher. Instead, he discovered a passion for broadcast engineering. Bosak, WITF-TV director of engineering and PAB's 2002 "Television Broadcaster of the Year," worked as a broadcast engineer from the days of black-and-white television through the evolving digital information age.

He started his career at WHP, Harrisburg's CBS affiliate. In 1967, he was hired by WITF-TV, the area's public broadcasting station, and radio station 89.5 FM. Over the years, he served as assistant chief engineer, operations supervisor, program manager, station announcer and Director of Engineering.

Bosak produced Pennsylvania Outdoors and America Outdoors and was the first television producer invited to join the Outdoor Writers Association.

As broadcast chairman of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Broadcast Emergency Communications Committee, Bosak helped to establish Pennsylvania's deployment of the emergency broadcast system providing necessary communications between emergency officials and the public through the cooperation of the statewide broadcasters of Pennsylvania.

He later led the team of WITF engineers which, on Aug. 26, 1998, activated Pennsylvania's first digital high definition station, WITF DT.

He spent 35 years as house sound technician at Hershey Theater and 15 years as Chamber Hill Boy Scout Troop 202 leader. He was program chairman for the Society of Broadcaster Engineers Chapter 43; served on the planning committee for The Whitaker Center for Science and The Arts; and was a founding member of St. Catherine Laboure Roman Catholic Church in Swatara Twp., where he served as a special minister for many years; and was a lifetime member of the Lawnton Fire Company.

He was the recipient of several awards over the years including the Tri-County Association of the Blind David E. Sill Lifetime Achievement Award and the Swatara Twp. Honor Roll Citizenship Award.

While battling cancer, Bosak continued to work. His fondness for the people he worked with and his role in the industry inspired him every day.

He loved nature, star gazing, trains and trolleys, his family and friends, Coxton Lake, and his dog, Misty.

He was the son of the former John M. and Phillippine Bosak, and the son-in-law of David E. and Mary Elizabeth Davidson Jr.

Surviving are his wife, Beverly Davidson Bosak and his former wife, Loretta Havens Gelbaugh; three sons, David C. Bosak and his wife Shelley Schwarz Bosak; Dr. Michael D. Bosak, and Steven P. Bosak, all of Harrisburg; two stepsons, David Cernugel of Harrisburg and Rodger A. Helwig and his wife Laurie Walker Helwig, of Mechanicsburg; two sisters, Barbara Greenwood and her husband Robert Greenwood, of Paxtang and Susan Schenk and her husband Dr. John Schenk, of Oregon; two step-grandchildren, Adriana Nell and Andrew Helwig; and nieces and nephews, Kathryn, Andrew, and John Greenwood and Robbie Davidson and Lisa Davidson Smith.

He was godfather to Rocco DiBacco of Harrisburg, Teddi Irwin and Greg Duda of Texas ad Stevie Duda & Jeff Duda, both of North Carolina. His godmother, Mary Basecki, of Coal Township, also survives him.

Memorial Service and Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Catherine Laboure 'Church at 4000 Derry Street at 11:00 a.m. on Monday in his church. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery, West Hanover Township.

Neill Funeral Home, Harrisburg
Harrisburg Patriot News 27 Jul 2002