Iris Evelyn Secord Yaskal

Iris Evelyn Secord Yaskal, born Sept. 25, 1926 in Middletown, N.Y., passed peacefully at her daughter’s home in Aquebogue on June 14, 2025.

Iris, daughter of Evelyn Secord and Turk Catazone, was a force to be reckoned with. Opinionated and strong-willed she lived her life according to her own rules. She started her career as a flight attendant, or stewardess, for Colonial Airlines and then for Eastern Airlines. After marrying her husband Bernard Yaskal, an airline captain for Trans Caribbean and then American Airlines, she went back to school and earned her Associates Degree in Applied Science in Nursing from Farmingdale College, her bachelor’s of Nursing from Stonybrook University, along with her LPN and RN and her Masters in Community Health Education from Adelphi University.

She worked at the Islip Clinic doing out-patient therapy for many years before working at Southern State and Western State in Virginia after moving closer to her daughter and only grandson. 

Iris and Bernie had two children: Randy Yaskal (Bill) Pitrowski and Todd Harrison Yaskal; and one grandchild, Jaison Abrahm Burke. She was loved by her cat and companion of 18 years, Smudge Yaskal. 

 A celebration of her life and a burial at Calverton National Cemetery will be held one year from her date of passing. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to East End Hospice.

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