Nicholas R. Tanga

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, 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

He was proceeded in death by his parents Charles and Mary Tanga, brother Charles Tanga, Sister Connie Tanga Barboni, Neice Mary Barboni, Nephew Nikki Barboni and grandson Justin Tyler.

Nick was born and raised in Elizabeth, NJ, on October 21, 1933. 

He was a loving, compassionate, husband and father.  Born to Italian parents, his mother died when he was four and he went to live with his grandparents. At age four he was placed in school because his grandmother threatened to ____ him if they wouldn’t take him. He must have been a real terror!  The orphanage was run by nuns, and he made it to graduation in 1946. After high school he worked as a pin setter in a bowling alley to pay for night school. He joined the army, and upon discharge, as a corporal, he spent 3 years at Oklahoma University and received a B. S. in electronic engineering. His first job was at Boeing in Wichita, Ks. 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 5 years he went to work in Salt Lake City for Sperry Univac (now L3Harris).  He also volunteered as a pilot for the Civil Air Patrol. In 1968 Sperry was awarded the drone aircraft program designated as the QU-22A.  He 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, we all returned to Marana Air Park in Arizona where he was the test director of 20 more QU-22A aircraft. When we returned to Utah he became a field manager. This position required many trips to overseas locations–Germany, Italy, Hungary, England, Cyprus, Japan and Soutth Korea. He retired in 2000 and was happy to say he worked for 5 different companies for 33 years at the same desk.  

Here are a few words from his supervisor about his work ethics, which we chose to include in his obituary.

Shiban, Nick’s Supervisor, had this to say about him. “Nick was my Field Manager when I was assigned to Palmdale CA in support of flight testing and upgrading activities on the U2 airborne platform. He also was my Field Manager in support of the Army Guardrail program before the fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany. Later, I joined the Field Management team in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Nick was a very effective Field Manager. His attention to detail was unmatched. He enjoyed his long phone calls with the Field Service Representatives (FSRs). The FSRs used to reach out to Nick for personal questions or issues. He took the time to listen and to provide well thought solutions and options. The FSRs always felt at ease to share with him. The trust between Nick and his assigned FSRs was solid and precious.
During some of our private talks, Nick revealed that he flew, as a pilot, a very specialized and highly classified aircraft in SE Asian theater. He could not provide any details even the name of the program. Nick also piloted another classified aircraft in Greenville, Texas. I thank Nick for his services to our country and his support to Field Organization at Salt Lake City, Utah throughout the years to ensure success to various US programs.”

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. He even taught his four-year daughter how to fly this plane. After his Overseas work was completed, he came back to live in the U.S., where he loved flying his airplane as much as he could. He enjoyed the crisp view and the great adventures above the clouds. 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 family.

Celebration of Life will be held on December 27, 2024 from 6-8 at Starks Funeral Parlor: 3651 S 900 E, Millcreek Utah, 84106. 

In Lieu of flowers, please donate to the Carmelite Monastery located at 5714 South Holladay Boulevard.