Joseph J. Innes

Joseph J. Innes, of Naples, FL. Died peacefully under the loving care of his wife Elena Troianovskia on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Joseph was born on September 4, 1919 in Czechoslovakia and was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Maria lhnacik (nee Kacmar) his brother, John lhnacik, his sister Mary Therese Talamo (nee lhnacik); and his first wife Clare Veronica Innes (nee Szabo). Joseph's father who was born in Danville, Illinois, returned to U.S. in 1925. Life in the "Roaring Twenties" was great, Joseph's father decide that the family would be better off in U.S ... Although mother was reluctant to leave the comforts of independent life on the farm, she packet a few necessities in May of 1930 and the family was reunited in Youngstown, Ohio. With slow recovery from the "Great Depression" in the Mahoning Valley, the family moved to Lakewood, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio where Joseph grew up. Joseph graduated from Lakewood High School and volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Force. He was classified and trained for Aviation Navigation and assigned to the Eight Air Force in the European Theatre of Operation. Joseph completed his Tour-of- Duty, flying 35 missions as Deputy, lead Navigator. For his service, he was awarded the US Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, ETOUSA Medal with three Battle stars, the Insignia of the National Order of the Legion of Honor, from the French Government as well as the Commemorative Medal from the Russian Government "on the SO Anniversary of the Victory in the great Patriotic War". When WWII ended, Joseph enrolled at John Carroll University to work on his Bachelor of Arts Degree. In his Junior Year, he decided to become a Mechanical Engineer. He transferred his credits to the University of Detroit. In his Senior Year, Joseph married Clare Veronica Szabo who kept in touch with him through the months in service. He received his Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1950, and passed the Ohio State Board Exam for Professional Engineers (PE). Ford Motor Company hired Joseph for their new Product Research Center in Dearborn, Michigan. As Principal Product Design Engineer, he designed and received Patents on Disc Brakes, Brake Failure Warning System, Brake Master Cylinder and Chassis Components. In 1967, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recruited Joseph for a Super Grade Position to promulgate Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. As Chief Engineer of the Brake Wheel and Tire Division of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, his principal assignment was to develop the initial Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for brakes, wheels and tires. In 1979, he was promoted to Senior Executive Service and received the DOT Secretaries Medal for Superior Service. Over the years at Ford Motor Company, the Department of Transportation and as Member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), he published and presented many technical papers. In 1996, he was recognized by SAE as a "Distinguished Senior Engineer" for exceptional leadership and contribution to the SAE Section. In October of 1997, Joseph's wife died of Cancer. Two years later, he met Elena Y. Troianovskia, widow from Moscow, Russia. With her many attributes, as Journalist, TV Anchor, Co-Author and Editor of five "Best Sellers" Books on "WWII from a Western Point of View", as well as her Central European background, Joseph proposed and they were married in a beautiful two hour Ceremony at the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington D.C . Joseph retired from his Forensic Engineering work on Accident Reconstruction in 2005 and they moved to Naples, where he continued his participation in SAE activities and received the 2006 SAE award for "55 Years of Active Participation". In Naples Elena and Joseph belong to the Club at Mediterra, and the Club at the Strand. They were also active in the Naples Military Officers Club, Naples Ballroom Dance Club and the Washington Black Tie Inc. He is survived by his loving wife Elena Y. Innes (nee Troianovskia); sister in law, Elizabeth lhnacik (nee Kopansky); son in law, Alex Troyanovsky and family; as well as the lhnacik, Talamo, Butterworth, Rabb and Szabo - nieces and nephews. Funeral Services with Military Honors will take place on Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 11:30 AM at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road 72, Sarasota, FL 34241. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home, Family Owned Since 1978.

Joseph J. Innes

September 4, 1919 - May 18, 2022