Lester Wishnet

Lester Kenneth Wishnet (93) passed away on Sept. 30, 2023. He was born in New Bedford, MA to Lewis and Ethel (Mickelson) Wishnet on July 1, 1930. Always driven by a strong sense of duty and love of his country, Lester enrolled in the ROTC program at the University of Massachusetts and following graduation with a B.S. in Economics, he entered the United States Air Force to serve his country during the Korean War. Out of a group of 80 men, he drew the lucky straw that led to his assignment in Montauk, Long Island as an air traffic controller. This assignment kept him from harm’s way in Korea and led to another stroke of luck when he met the love of his life, Joan Rothman, who was vacationing with a friend in Montauk over July 4th weekend in 1954. Just four months later, Lester and Joan were married. He retired from active duty in the USAF as a Captain and served many years in the Reserves. Originally settling in Joan’s hometown of NYC, they later moved to Levittown, NJ where Lester worked for RCA Aerospace as a project controls manager. Still with RCA Aerospace, they moved to Newton, then Peabody, MA where his proudest achievement was to have contributed to the lunar landing module project for NASA’s Apollo program. He also earned an MBA from New York University while driving twice per week from Boston to NYC. In the mid-1970’s, Lester changed careers and went to work for Brown and Root as a project controls manager in Houston, Texas. He was very successful at Brown and Root, having been promoted to be the manager of the planning and scheduling department. Following retirement in 1995, Lester and Joan lived in Albuquerque, NM for several years having volunteered at the Indian Cultural Center. They moved back to Houston to be closer to their grandchild and then volunteered at the Holocaust Museum Houston. He enjoyed traveling and the senior trips with Congregation Beth Am, as he and Joan had been long-time members. Having a keen sense of style and a competitive urge to find fantastic bargains, Lester enjoyed shopping as well. Always respected and admired by his friends and colleagues alike, he will be sorely missed by those who loved him. Lester is pre-deceased by his wife Joan of nearly 68 years and is survived by his daughter Amy Gold and granddaughter Nancy Gold, both of Houston, Texas. A funeral service with military honors was held at 11:00 am on Friday, October 6, 2023 at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr., Houston, Texas, 77038. Please arrive no later than 10:50 am.

Lester Wishnet

July 1, 1930 - September 30, 2023