Patrolman Byno on his 1948 Indian motorcycle
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, November 11, 2017
Born: June 24, 1923, in Brooklyn
Died: Aug. 7, 2021, at the age of 98
Married: Gloria Reed, August 18, 1945
Children: Lois, Janice, Robert Jr., William and Paul
Robert P. Byno served as a Marine in World War II.
See: "A hero among us," Adirondack Daily Enterprise, May 24, 2016. The article was written by Jessica Livingston, his great-granddaughter.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, November 11, 2017
Bob Byno -- combat Marine veteran, WWII
Bob Byno, aircraft gunner
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, November 11, 2017by Howard Riley
. . . Bob retired as a police officer with the Nassau County Police Department serving for 26 years from 1948 to 1974 . . . the Nassau County Association of Police Officers published an entire newsletter in 2015 about Bob with the cover in color showing his medals and plane. He was a gunner in a cockpit behind the pilot in a plane known as the Douglas SBD Dauntless, a scout plane and dive bomber. Following is a summary of the newsletter story:
Bob flew 139 missions from December 20, 1943 to Oct. 4, 1944 in the Gilbert Islands, Tarawa and the Marshall Islands against the Japanese during World War II.
Bob enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1942. He trained at Parris Island, SC boot camp. He went on [to] attend the Naval Training School at Texas A&M College and graduated in a Radio Code Course. In 1943 he attended the Bombing and Air Gunnery School at the US Marine Corps Air Station in El Centro, California and graduated as an Air Gunner. He was then assigned to the US Marine Air Squadron VMSB 331 and was sent to British Samoa and American Samoa for fighter training and dive bombing tactics.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with One Silver Star, Air Medal with three Silver Stars and three Gold Stars, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Medal, American Campaign Medal and the Conspicuous Service Cross from New York State.
The headline . . . reads: "Thank you for your service to our country Bob Byno of VMSB 331."
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, August 11, 2021
Robert Patrick Byno, Sr.
Robert (Bob) Patrick Byno, Sr., passed away on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, at the age of 98 following a short stay at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. He is now happily reunited in heaven with his loving wife, Gloria, to celebrate their wedding anniversary on Aug. 18.
Bob was born in Brooklyn Queens, New York, on June 24, 1923 to his parents Theresa (Chester) and John Byno. He grew up in Queens and graduated from P. S. 136 in 1938 and went on to graduate from Andrew Jackson High School. In 1942, World War II was starting up and he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Bob successfully completed his Bombing Radio Gunner Course at Marine Corps Air Station, El Centro, California. He served in the Pacific Theater, flying 139 bomber missions and was honorably discharged in 1945 with multiple medals. Among them was the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944. The U.S. president awarded him the Gold and Bronze Air Medals, including the Bronze and Gold Stars for his meritorious achievements while participating in Aerial Flight from Dec. 20, 1943 to March 28, 1944.
In 1945, he married Gloria Reed and they lived a very happy life together for 72 years raising their five children: daughters Lois (Don) Stunzi and Janice Fitzgibbon, and sons Robert Jr. (Michele), William (Connie), and Paul (companion, Brandi). Bob is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren who he loved dearly and who admired him with pride and love.
He was predeceased by his devoted wife, Gloria, whom he missed every day, and his beloved grandson and proud namesake, Robert (Rob) Patrick Byno III.
During his very fulfilling life, he retired from the Nassau County 7th Precinct Police Department. He went on to work for, and later retire from, the U.S. Postal Service at Massapequa Park, Long Island.
As a young boy, Bob grew up spending summers camping with his parents and four siblings at Fish Creek. His love for the area continued and he moved his family to Saranac Lake in 1971 where he spent many years working, first as a union carpenter on the bobsled run and ski jumps in preparation for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. His work in the Adirondack region continued as he went on to manage Asplin Tree Farms and finally served as building inspector for the town of Brighton.
Bob was a devout Catholic and achieved the level of 4th Degree Knight of Columbus.
We will all miss this legend of our family. He was our rock and there will always be a piece of us missing. Rest in peace Dad and Semper Fi.
Funeral arrangements are with the Fortune Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. Calling hours are scheduled for Friday, Aug. 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Aug. 14 at 10 a.m. at Church of the Assumption in Gabriels. Burial will immediately follow in the family lot at St. Paul’s Cemetery in Bloomingdale.
Contributions may be made to the Carmelite Nuns in Beacon, New York through the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their condolences at fortunekeoughfuenralhome.com.
