Jay M.Sedlik - December 16, 1937 - December 10, 2011
We’re sorry to announce the passing of Jay Sedik.
Strong, gentle, warm, intelligent, humorous, creative, thoughtful, selfless, courageous, giving and ever-positive, Jay Sedlik was a bright, shining star, illuminating friends, family and all who were lucky enough to know and love him.
Born to Nathan and Fannie Sedlik in New York, Jay graduated from Miami High, and earned degrees from University of Miami (BA), Pennsylvania’s Distinguished Annenberg School (MA), and USC (PhD). Jay enjoyed 52 years of marriage with his loving wife Bernice.
A lifetime patriot and true American hero, Air Force Lt. Colonel Sedlik served his country for 20 years, as producer/writer/director of documentaries and training films, Chief of Combat Photography in Vietnam, professor at the Air Force Academy and executive producer of films for the Pentagon and the Air Training Command. Jay later founded National Training Systems, producing corporate multi-media training programs.
An avid golfer and exceptional photographer, Jay also loved fishing, boating, model railroading, and international travel. Jay passed away peacefully in his Encino, California home at the age of 73, surrounded by his family.
He is survived by wife Bernice; children Jeff, Scott, Sheri and Gary; grandchildren Mason, Sophia, David, Noah, Owen, Marissa and Alexa; brothers Earl and Barry.
Memorial services December 29th, 2011 at noon: Temple Judea, 5429 Lindley, Tarzana. Jay will later be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery, with full military honors.
Please celebrate Jay’s life with a contribution in his memory to Sarcoma Research at University of California in Los Angeles Jonsson Cancer Center (310) 206-0675.
More at http://www.sedlik.com/jay Dr. Jay, you are our hero. We love you, salute you and will forever orbit your shining star.
Published in the Los Angeles Times on December 16, 2011
From the family:
Photos by Jay Sedlik
Jay M. Sedlik, was a retired Lt. Colonel in the USAF (Combat Photography/Vietnam). He was in the 600th in Vietnam from 65 – 67 in charge of photographic and motion picture documentation for the USAF and filmed “Skoshi Tiger” in February ’65 in Bien Hoa and was friends with Roger Mitchell.
I found your website when I googled his name tonight and saw his note dated in September about your reunion. My Dad passed away Saturday night from a 14-year battle with soft tissue sarcoma which was a result of is exposure to Agent Orange during his two tours in Vietnam. Please share the information about his passing with your members and anyone else who might have known him. My Dad was a truly special person and I want to make sure everyone who knew him is aware that he is sadly no longer with us.
Dr. Jay Sedlik, beloved husband of Bernice, father of Gary, Sheri, Scott and Jeffrey, grandfather of Alexa, Marissa, Owen, Noah, David, Sophia & Mason, brother of Barry and Earl, son of Nathan and Fannie, passed away peacefully at home, in the arms of his family, December 10, 2011.
Jay fought a courageous fourteen-year battle against incurable soft tissue sarcoma resulting from his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.
In lieu of flowers, consider a contribution to Sarcoma Research at UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center in Jay’s memory. 310.206.0675 www .cancer.ucla.edu/donate jccfinfo@mednet.ucla.edu
Memorial Service for Jay
Thursday December 29, Noon
Temple Judea, 5429 Lindley Avenue Tarzana, CA 91356
We Need Your Photos For The Memorial Service
eMail them to Sheri Margolis at sherimargolis@verizon.net
Please send us your photos of Jay (alone, or with family/friends)
See http://sedlik.com/jay for more info.
Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery
Ceremony scheduled for February 15, 2011 at 9:00am with full military honors.
Guestbook
If you have not yet done so, please post your memories of Jay to the Guestbook on Jay’s site, http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jaysedlik
Support Cancer Research in Memory of Jay
Make a contribution in Jay’s name to the Sarcoma Research program at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. More at www.sedlik.com/jay
With Love,
The Sedlik Family
Jay Sedlik is easily one of the best friends I ever had. We met at USC where he was working on his Phd and I on my MA. After USC Jay was assigned to Lookout Mountain AFS and I went to Det 4 at Los Angeles AFS. We went to small arms training together, flew to Saigon together, and lived together while in Saigon. Our friendship continued after we left the service and he an Bernice came all the way from California to help us celebrate out 50th wedding anniversary in Hilton Head SC. Jay was a very special human being and is sorely missed.
In 1966 I was att 600th Sqdn HQ. Saigon, five months April. Then went to Danang AB, Det. 7. Major Howy Laudow when. Worked in photo lab, still section.
Didn’t know your father. Our paths must have crossed sometime.
May he rest in peace. Retired April 30, 1979
TSGT Harry Ray Borders
cameramanray@yahoo.com
Thank you, Ray. This is Jay’s daughter, Sheri Sedlik Margolis I did not receive your comment until I just pulled up this website today. Thank you for your service and for what you did for our country. I’m going to email an essay my father wrote about freedom during his time in Vietnam. Here is the email I received about the essay last month (11/18) from the son of another member of the USAF:
My father’s name was Leon Ouzts. He served with your father in Viet Nam in the Combat Photo Squadron. He talked many times of Captain Jay Sedlik. In reading his obituary on the internet I was intrigued that an attributing cause was his exposure to agent orange. My father died of cancer in 1987 which they also attribute to exposure to agent orange. I remember him telling me that while filming the spraying of jungles with agent orange from the back of the planes, his suit would get soaked in that stuff. When they got on the ground, they would wring it out and hang it on the clothes line to dry and wear them again the next day…
I also remember reading and having a copy of an article written by your father titled “ My Heritage” about Viet Nam. If you would like a copy I could send it.
I don’t know if you will get this note, since I’m not sure this email address for you is valid.
Regards,
Richard Ouzts