Nicholas R. Tanga
Friday, Jan. 17, 2025
Nicholas R. Tanga
October 21, 1933 ~ December 18, 2024
Nick, 91, passed away unexpectedly at home on December 18, 2024. He is survived by his loving wife Jan, children Alice (Rich) Hall, Rick (Michelle) Tanga, five grandchildren and three great- grandchildren.
Nick was born on October 21, 1933 and was raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He was a loving, compassionate husband and father. Born to Italian parents, his mother died when he was four, so he went to live with his grandparents, who then placed him in an orphanage run by nuns. Graduating from high school in 1950, he joined the Army. Upon discharge, he attended Oklahoma University and received a Bachelor of Science in electronic engineering.
His first job was at Boeing in Wichita, Kansas as a flight engineer on the B52 program. At the same time, he acquired his pilot, commercial and instrument licenses. This is when he met his future wife of 61 years, Virgiline Janice Dome. After five years he went to work in Salt Lake City for Sperry Univac (now L3 Harris) and volunteered as a pilot for the Civil Air Patrol. In 1968 Sperry was awarded the drone aircraft program designated as the QU-22A. Nick was selected as one of the test pilots and helped develop drone capability. All test pilots were sent to Thailand to a base near the Mekong River. (He took his pregnant wife and daughter to Bangkok at that time.) After this program ended, the family returned to Marana Air Park in Arizona, where he was the test director of 20 more QU-22A aircraft. When he returned to Utah he became a field manager. He retired in 2000 and was happy to say he worked for five different companies for 33 years, at the same desk.
He was always interested in being above the clouds. He had plenty of experience flying a plane, as he had part-time ownership of a single engine airplane. After his overseas work was completed, he came back to live in the United States, where he loved flying his airplane as much as he could. He was smart, funny and adventurous. He always thanked God for a wonderful life of peace with his wife Jan and children. We were all lucky to have him in our lives.
A celebration of life was held on December 27, 2024 at Starks Funeral Parlor. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Carmelite Monastery located at 5714 South Holladay Blvd., Salt Lake City.
Stay Connected With Us