TOM POBEREZNY

OCTOBER 3, 1946 – JULY 25, 2022

Thomas Paul (Tom) Poberezny was born to fly and spent his entire life bringing his passion for aviation to the rest of the world. Born in Milwaukee in 1946, Tom studied Industrial Engineering at Northwestern University but ended up missing his college graduation in 1968 because he was flying in an aerobatic competition. A member of the U.S. National Unlimited Aerobatic Team that won the World Championship in 1972, Tom went on to capture the U.S. National Unlimited Aerobatic Championship in 1973. He spent the next 25 years flying for the original Red Devils, that later became the Eagles Aerobatic Team, known for being the most successful civilian precision flying team in aviation history. Perhaps Tom’s greatest legacy originated with his father Paul’s formation of the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) in 1953. Tom joined his father in opening the world of aviation to millions with the eventual AirVenture Fly-In, the world’s largest aviation convention, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In the mid 70s, Tom became Chairman of

EAA Air-Venture, a role he held for 25 years, subsequently establishing Oshkosh as the mecca of aviation. Tom led EAA through major milestones, including leading the capital fundraising campaign, which established the EAA Aviation Center, museum, and fly-in grounds in one location. Tom succeeded his father as president in 1992, holding that position for more than 20 years, before becoming Chairman of the Board in 2009, and retiring in 2011. Tom was dedicated to the future of aviation and established EAA’s Young Eagles. Initially hoping to give one million kids between the ages of 8 and 17 their first airplane flight by 2003, the First Flight Centennial, the program met that goal, and celebrated its 30th anniversary having flown nearly 2.3 million young aviators. Tom was inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation in 2013 and the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio in 2016. Sadly, Tom’s life ended the first day of EAA Air-Venture 2022.