He served on the Syracuse Common Council for six years, followed by nearly 3 decades as a leading State Senator and community leader in Central NY. Before all that, Tarky Lombardi Jr. served his country in uniform, initially with the Navy Reserve on the destroyer USS Nicholson based at Brooklyn Navy Yard; afterwards with the Army at Fort Totten NY as a missile radar specialist and with the missile defense unit at Lido Beach on Long Island.

Tarky flew Mission 20 in the spring of 2024, accompanied by his grandson Matthew Yonta. A week after his Honor Flight to Washington, his daughter Jennine shared this with us:

“I finally, just yesterday, had some time to speak with my dad about Honor Flight and I think it had a profound impact on all of us.  Although it took a few days for both he and my mom to fully recover from the whirlwind of emotions and activities, the joy in their voices spoke volumes.  

In our conversation just yesterday, my dad shared his sentiments about the day, describing it as nothing short of ‘magnificent.’ The surprises, the camaraderie and the sheer magnitude of the experience left an indelible mark on him.  Hearing him say “I am very glad I did this” after years of cajoling, resonated deeply with me and I am grateful for the opportunity Honor Flight provided.  

I’m still in awe at how the day was orchestrated with such care and perfection…I am grateful that both he and Matt will have this memory for ever.  Thank you for making it happen.” 

In November of 2024, at the age of 95, Tarky passed away, leaving in his wake a lasting legacy of service.

In his memory, the Lombardi family has generously donated $15,000 to Honor Flight Syracuse! HFS representatives joined family members at The Century Club in January to express our deep gratitude for the gift and for Tarky’s lifetime of service.