ROCHESTER — Services for Brig. Gen. John Pogorek were set to be held as the investigation into the accident that took his life is ongoing.
Pogorek, who was commander of the New Hampshire Air National Guard Base at Pease, was struck by a vehicle on July 8, according to police. Pogorek had pulled over and got out of his pickup truck to re-secure a load on a trailer he was towing, when a Toyota RAV4 hit him on Crown Point Road in Rochester.
He is survived by his wife, Whitney Pogorek, and their five children. Whitney Pogorek has indicated on her Facebook page she is grateful for the support she is receiving. She has also stated she is making efforts to downsize by selling some of the farm animals on their property, Red Gate Farm, in Strafford.
Details on funeral services for John Pogorek
Services are being held Friday, July 19, at Pease Air National Guard Base, at 302 Newmarket St. in Newington.
A public viewing was set for 10 a.m., followed by the funeral at 11 a.m., inside Hangar 254. Gates were set to open at 9 a.m. for visitors, who will be directed to appropriate parking areas, according to Air Guard officials.
A private burial at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen will follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests financial contributions in memory of Pogorek can be made to the New Hampshire Military Assistance Foundation, according to his obituary.
Police say investigation is ongoing
The driver who struck Pogorek was identified by police shortly after the crash as Paul Clement, 81, of Rochester.
Rochester police Capt. Todd Pinkham said as of Wednesday, there had been no arrest.
"I can say that this is still a very active and ongoing investigation, and charges are possible," Pinkham said. "Since it is still active and ongoing, I cannot get into much detail, but I can say there has been movement on the case and that not everything we do can be released to the public."
Pinkham said police have spoken with the Strafford County attorney’s staff about the ongoing investigation and they are working with the Strafford County Regional Technical Accident Reconstruction Team.
Pogorek remembered fondly by peers
Pogorek's obituary, released by Tasker Funeral Home, states his love of flying led to his long career that began in the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. His journey included assignments as a pilot and commander at Air Force bases in Texas and the United Kingdom before he came to Pease in New Hampshire in 1999. He became the 157th Air Refueling Wing commander at Pease in 2018 and commander of the New Hampshire Air National Guard in 2022, according to his Air Guard biography.
In recent years, Pogorek worked to respond to calls for a health study at Pease after families raised concerns about cancer cases among those who served at the base.
“Gen. Pogorek was an exemplary wingman, mentor and friend to many,” New Hampshire Adjutant Gen. David Mikolaities said in a prepared statement. “He served his state and nation with the utmost professionalism and dedication. He will be deeply missed.”
As the assistant adjutant general for the NHANG, Gen. Pogorek was responsible for the command, operations, and combat readiness of more than 1,300 officers, airmen, and civilians at Pease Air National Guard Base in Newington, according to the Guard. Gen. Pogorek was a pilot, accruing more than 6,675 flying hours over 31 years with the U.S. Air Force and NHANG, the Guard stated. He oversaw the fielding and operations of the Air National Guard’s first fleet of KC-46A refuelers.
"For as long as he could remember, John wanted to fly," the obituary states. "In his family home in Ware, (Massachusetts), John's childhood room included a collection of toy planes hung over his bed. His desire to fly led him to enter the Air Force Academy, where he took his first-ever plane ride."
This story will be updated.
Most Popular
Comments / 0