Chet Poslusny, veteran, touched many lives
Chet Poslusny, 77, died unexpectedly Monday, July 29, 2024, in Lewes.
Chet was born Nov. 6, 1946, in Staten Island, N.Y., to parents Chester Poslusny Sr. and Rose Giordano. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1967, serving as an E4 sergeant, and attending the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif. After serving his country, Chet attended County College of Morris, Florida Atlantic University, and Hood College to pursue a 30-plus-year career in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Chet and Denise met in Dover, N.J., and moved to Damascus, Md., at the start of his government career. After several years, they moved to Olney, Md., where they became active in the school community for sports and music, and embraced the joys of raising their kids. Upon retirement, Chet and Denise moved to Lewes in 2003, where Chet pursued a second consulting career, was a substitute teacher at local middle and high schools, and recently held a part-time position with Osher Lifelong Learning, where he made many friends. Chet was a member of the Dirty Hands Gang for the Overfalls Foundation and a member of the Historic Lewes Farmers Market Tentations, and embraced his love of language and conversation working with J-1 students in the International Student Outreach Program. Chet was a kind, caring man who lived his life by the mantra, “If a friend needs help, you help them.”
Chet generously used his love of music to play banjo and guitar with the Back Bay Strummers, and to entertain at local church dinners and senior citizen homes, entertaining the elderly population with songs from their youth to their golden era. Chet established a regular following for his solo, acoustic guitar act Acoustic Waves in several local establishments, and he regularly played in downtown Rehoboth in the alley at The Coffee Mill, entertaining tourists and locals for the past 15 years.
He was so very loved by his friends involved in music, bicycling, pickleball, swimming, skiing, and hiking. He was an adventurer and participated with his “cowboys” in a yearly cattle drive in Southwest Texas, rode 60-80 miles a week with his biking friends on local trails, and was known to cross-country ski across empty lots during rare Lewes snowstorms.
Chet was fascinated by the newest local brew or hot sauce, or the latest Martin guitar. His children Michael and Meghan truly won the lottery when it comes to having a loving father. He touched so many lives with his electric smile and caring heart.
Chet is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Denise Poslusny; children, Meghan Shipman and Mike Poslusny; daughter-in-law, Christina Poslusny; son-in-law, Kenneth McBriar; grandchildren, Josh Poslusny, Emma Poslusny, Gavin McBriar and Ava McBriar; siblings Steve Poslusny, Anita Sandelier and Matt Poslusny; and many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rose and Chester Poslusny Sr.
A celebration of Chet’s life will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to Disabled American Veterans, dav.org; or Beebe Medical Foundation, 902 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958.
Visit Chet’s Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
