Wing welcomes its 2015 honorary commander Published Jan. 16, 2015 By MSgt. Andrew Biscoe 439th AW Public Affairs WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- This year's honorary wing commander coincides with Westover's history. A standing ovation honored Stephen Jendrysik, a historian and retired Chicopee teacher, as he concluded his remarks as the 2015 439th Airlift Wing honorary commander, at the Jan. 10 Commander's Call. Col. Albert Lupenski, 439th AW commander, chose Jendrysik, 75, as the honorary commander, reciting the oath in front of more than 1,000 439th Airmen at the Base Hangar. "We're delighted to have you here; we're proud to have you here," Jendrysik told the hangar full of reservists. "I was born the same day this place opened. As you celebrate your 75th, so do I -- this summer." Jendrysik and his wife, Barbara, toured the base control tower just before Commander's Call, and took in one of the best views of the base and western Massachusetts. Following more than 40 years of teaching in Chicopee, Mr. Jendrysik retired in 2003. But he remains very active speaking in front of groups of people as the chairman of the Chicopee Historical Commission. He's also Chicopee's city historian. His historical knowledge -- which spans well behind us all and back into Chicopee's 19th century era -- has informed the 100,000-plus readership of the Springfield Republican newspaper for many years. Mr. Jendrysik has written more than 600 history columns. Jendrysik's thorough research on Chicopee has included Westover's 75 years of service to our nation. He was a writer and Contributor to the local television documentary "50 Years at Westover," produced in 1990. The author of four historical books on Chicopee, Mr. Jendrysik has been married 51 years. They have two sons: Mark, a professor at the University of North Dakota; and Stephen, who is a commander in the U.S. Navy.