Gary Hodak, a long-time avionics and completions specialist who served with Associated Air Center and King Aerospace, passed away recently in Dallas from Alzheimer’s at the age of 69.

Born April 27, 1951, in Riga, Russia, his family immigrated to Israel while he was still a boy. He received his aeronautical training with the Israeli Air Force and served in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, according to the Texas Jewish Post. A year later he moved to the U.S. His first job there was at Atlantic Aviation in Wilmington, Delaware. He subsequently was hired by Sunstream Jet in Fort Lauderdale, Flordia.

For the bulk of his career, Hodak served as director of avionics at Associated Air Center in Dallas. During his 23 years with the completions specialist, Hodak held a number of positions with increasing responsibility, including managing BBJ and ACJ avionics and systems modifications. In 2010, he took a job with King Aerospace in Addison, Texas, where he was director of technical services overseeing large aircraft refurbishment programs.

Hodak is survived by his wife Shelley, daughter Ereet, son Oren, and grandchildren Smith and Noah.