Jacob Onofrio

Jack at Gunnery School

Jack Onofrio was born May 11, 1925, in New Haven, Connecticut, the son of Frank Onofrio and Eva Stone. As a very young child, he worked as a shoeshine boy, baker's helper, and filling station attendant. He attended Hillhouse High School, where he was a member of the swim team, and graduated in June 1942. He enlisted in the Army Air Force in November 1942, and saw action in the European Theater as a machine gunner on B-24s, taking part in the Northern Appennines, Po Valley, Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns, receiving the Air Medal.

After a short period in civilian life, he re-enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving for twenty years as an air crew member in B-29s during the Korean War and as a special agent for the Office of Special Investigations for ten years. He completed his service as a Squadron First Sergeant and retired in 1965.

He then embarked on his next vocation as an American Kennel Club licensed all-breed professional dog handler. In 1968, he and his wife Dorothy co-founded Jack Onofrio Dog Shows, which grew from fourteen shows per year to its current status as the premier dog show organization in the nation. He was an avid bowler, enjoyed square dancing, was a music aficionado and played the organ, sang in the church choir, and was an enthusiastic leisure cruiser. In June 1985 Jack married his current wife Patricia Powers Onofrio, who worked with him as a dog show superintendent and also took more than one hundred cruises with him to the Caribbean, Europe, and Alaska. Jack died August 31, 2004. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Onofrio and Eva Stone, brother Morris, sisters Beatrice and Marion Tommaselli, and grandson Christopher Onofrio. He is survived by his wife Pat Onofrio of Deltona, Florida, son Jack Onofrio (Sue) of Venice, Florida, daughter Lin Onofrio Brinkman (Bill) of Round Rock, Texas, grandsons Antony Onofrio, Andrew Brinkman (Dijana) and Robert Brinkman, niece Betty Glaser of Sherman Oaks, California, stepsons Mark Politowicz (Patty) of Cape Coral, Florida, and Michael Politowicz (Stacia) of Longwood, Florida, stepdaughter Julie Von Allmen (Bill) of Grant, Florida, great-grandsons Michael and Christopher Onofrio, great-granddaughter Lauren Nicole Onofrio, step-grandchildren Macrae and Ryan Politowicz, and by his first wife and friend Dorothy Onofrio Lippincott.

Jack trained with this crew but was in the hospital when they were ship to China. He headed for the 757th Squadron in Italy.