Maleszewski, John, Jr.

Michelle Kukan

1926-02-15

Ramapo, NY

2006-04-01

Beal Memorial Cemetery, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Entrepreneur/ Business owner

Seaman First Class

7125176

1944-02-14

1945-06-27

John Maleszewski Jr. enlisted into the U.S. Navy on 1944-02-14. He was assigned to the USS LST-6 and was received aboard 1944-04-29. An LST, (Landing Ship, Tank) was used to support amphibious assaults on beaches by carrying tanks, cargo, vehicles and troops directly to the shore of beaches. Maleszewski’s amphibious force was based in England. LST-6 aided in the landings at Omaha Beach and were a part of Assault Group O3 during the Invasion of Normandy. Maleszewski suffered from the resulting trauma of D-Day for the rest of his life. He made forty-three additional trips in LST-6 across the English Channel. Maleszewski and the USS LST-6 were torpedoed in the Seine River after hitting a magnetic mine. He was subsequently reassigned to another LST. Maleszewski was discharged from the Navy 1945-06-27.

John Joseph “Johnny” Maleszewski Jr., was born to Joseph Sr. and Karolina Maleszewski, on 1926-02-15. They lived on Hines Avenue in Mahwah, NJ. Maleszewski and his siblings were raised by their parents as devout Catholics. His older siblings were: Teresa, Chester, Francis, Joseph, and Stephen. His younger siblings were: Edward, Sophia, and Thomas. Along with Chester, Francis, Joseph, Stephen, and Edward, the six brothers were known as the “Fighting Maleszewski’s.” After the war, the Maleszewski’s (except Joseph and Francis, who were killed during the war) moved to Florida. Along with his brother Stephen, Maleszewski ran Johnny’s Wayside Tourist Trap in Defuniak Springs, Florida. Maleszewski and his brother Stephen were partners in the motel and real estate business (Spyglass Realty Company). After a couple years, Maleszewski, Stephen, Sophia and Thomas took over the family’s other business, Chuck and Eddie’s. In 1970, the Maleszewski family sold all businesses they owned at the time and acquired a 30 room motel/restaurant in Destin. It was named the Spyglass Inn Motel. The Maleszewski’s sold the Spyglass Inn Motel in 1985 and subsequently retired. In retirement, Maleszewski, along with Stephen and Sophia, founded their own grass-roots community service program. Malezewski also helped various charity organizations in his local community. He attended his local Catholic Church, serving as a Catholic Evangelizer,was a Fourth Degree in the Knights of Columbus, and was an avid golfer. Maleszewski died on 2006-04-01 at age 80.

Father: John Sr.
Mother: Karolina (née Kowalczyk)
Siblings: Teresa
Chester
Francis
Joseph
Stephen
Edward
Sophia Burnett (née Maleszewski)
Thomas

Photo 1: "Johnny Maleszewski," place and date unknown (Matthew Maleszewski).

Photo 2: "Johnny Maleszewski as a young caddy," place and date unkown (Matthew Maleszewski).

Photo 3: Maleszewski's draft card, completed 1945-07-03 in Ramsey, NJ (Ancestry Library).

Photo 4: "The Fighting Maleszewski's," from left to right: Stephen, John Jr., Edward, and John Sr., posing with medals that were awarded to Francis and Joseph, 1951 (Matthew Maleszewski).  

Photo 5: "John Maleszewski at the Spyglass Inn in the 1980s," Spyglass Inn, Destin, FL, exact date unknown (The Destin Log).

Photo 6: Maleszewski's Headstone, Beal Memorial Cemetery, FL, date of photo unknown (Findagrave.com).

The name of Maleszewski’s older sister has also been listed as Theresa, Agnes, and Stella.