EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA
New Hampshire
World War II prison camp survivor dies in car crash
Published: September 20, 2008
SALEM, N.H. — Joseph Lovoi, 87, never drove at night.
But for some reason, the World War II prison camp survivor left his home in Methuen, Mass., Thursday night and headed to Salem, where he ended up driving erratically and crashing into a tree.
Lovoi, active in veterans affairs and author of a memoir about flying 29 bombing missions, was dead on arrival at Caritas Holy Family Hospital in Methuen.
In his book "Listen ... My Children And Stay Free,'' he described being shot down over Austria and spending six months in a German prison camp.
Family and friends said they have no idea why Lovoi left his house at 4 Morgan Drive in his car.
At his family's request, Lovoi never drove at night, only during the daytime, they said.
"We're just mystified why he would feel the need to go anywhere at night," said Floranne Porter, his ex-wife, who maintained a friendship with him. "It's really puzzling and shocking."
He was still living an active life and was in good health, she said.
Cathy Blais, a friend, who said Lovoi was like an uncle, said she also couldn't understand why he left the house.
Blais, who lives there herself, said she saw Lovoi in his favorite chair watching television when she went into the kitchen to get a soda about 10:30 p.m.
She said he seemed fine and she returned to her bedroom.
Sometime after that, he left the house in his Chrysler sedan and turned onto Route 97 (Main Street) in Salem headed west. He was then spotted by Salem fire Chief Kevin Breen, who had just left a selectmen's meeting, Assistant fire Chief Paul Parisi said.
Breen said Lovoi was driving erratically. He called his dispatchers to have them report it to police, Parisi said. Breen continued following Lovoi and watched from a distance as his car went off the road into a tree in front of Romano's Pizzera near the central fire station on Main Street, Parisi said.
Parisi said when he arrived he helped Breen remove Lovoi from his car, and they treated him in the parking lot.
"He was unconscious but still alive, but he was critically injured," Parisi said. "We kept his airway open and put on a neck brace."
When he was in the ambulance, a paramedic inserted a ventilator down his throat to help him breathe, Parisi said. He was taken to Caritas Holy Family Hospital where was pronounced dead on arrival, police said.
A medical problem may have precipitated the accident, but it isn't clear, Parisi said.
"The fact is he was operating erratically and it doesn't appear alcohol was a factor," Parisi said.
His son, David Lovoi, 48, of Lawrence, Mass., said his father was a courageous man who refused to give any information to the enemy when he was kept in solitary confinement at a prison camp and interrogated daily.
"He strongly believed in freedom and justice, and he was a very caring individual," his son said. "He was a very generous man with his time and money."
His generosity extended to many veterans of different wars, who he helped obtain all the benefits they were entitled to, his son said.
He also was an active member of the Disabled American Veterans.
He navigated 29 bombing missions and was shot down during the last one. He and thousands of other POWs regained their freedom when Gen. George Patton liberated their prison camp on June 1, 1945.
John Katsaros, 85, a close friend of Lovoi's and a World War II veteran himself, said he will miss his friend.
Katsaros of Haverhill, Mass., said he attended weekly veterans events with Lovoi. They also shared coffee almost daily and supported one another.
They had planned to attend an annual prisoner of war event in Boston yesterday.
In the late 1960s, Lovoi founded a company in Wilmington, Mass., that manufactured portable communications systems and decontamination equipment for the military.
Lovoi, who had a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Northeastern University and a master's degree in physics from Tufts University, grew up in Cambridge, where he graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin.
He lived in Methuen for the past eight years and in Andover for some 27 years before that.
In addition to his son David, he leaves also leaves his sons Joseph Lovoi Jr. of New York and Bradley Lovoi of Lancaster, Mass.; a daughter Mary Lovoi of Arlington, Mass.; and three grandchildren.
He will be buried Tuesday in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Mass.
Calling hours will be Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Keefe Funeral Home in Arlington (Mass.) Center.
