Floyd Brent Chomyszak

Retired New York State Police Sergeant Floyd Brent Chomyszak, age 61, of Punta Gorda, Florida, pierced the veil of Heaven on August 23, 2022, while surrounded by his loving family and close friends after a courageous struggle with 9/11-related cancer.

“Brent,” as he was known to all, was born to John G. “Jerry” Chomyszak and Marjorie Stark Chomyszak, July 14, 1961, in Norwich, N.Y. Under the tutelage of his father, Brent developed a love of and expertise in angling and shooting. He was on the Norwich High School Rifle Team and became a master with both long guns and pistols. Following graduation in 1979, he attended the State University of New York Maritime College in the Bronx, New York City, and later attained a Bachelor of Political Science degree in 1986 from the State University of New York at Oswego. Brent then briefly worked as a deputy sheriff for Chenango County (Norwich) before moving to Georgia in September 1986 to attend the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy in Austell. After graduating in October, he served as an officer with the Police Department in Marietta, GA for six months.

Brent returned to New York State in March 1987 when selected to attend the N.Y. State Police Academy, from which he graduated in September. Throughout his distinguished career, he was stationed at multiple locations within three N.Y. State Police “Troops,” and was selected for a number of special assignments, including the N.Y. Governor’s Protective Services Detail and several boat details. Recognized as a Distinguished Pistol Expert, he also earned the distinction of Field Training Officer. In 2004, Brent was promoted to Sergeant, and held the position of Station Commander while assigned to Troop D at Morrisville. In addition, he was selected as Sergeant-In-Charge of Operation IMPACT, a crucial collaboration between N.Y. State Police and the Syracuse Police Department. Most notably, Brent selflessly served at “Ground Zero” for six months immediately following the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. It was this heroic devotion to duty, with prolonged daily exposure to deadly toxins, which ultimately cost Brent his life 21 years later. Brent retired from the N.Y. State Police in 2011 following 24 years of faithful, honorable service.

After retiring, Brent relocated his family to Florida via the trip of a lifetime … a 32-day voyage on their 46-foot Overseas Performance Trawler. This remarkable journey began in the St. Lawrence River and traversed the Erie Canal, Hudson River, Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, Intracoastal Waterway, St. Lucie Canal, Lake Okeechobee, Caloosahatchee River and Charlotte Harbor before ending at a dock immediately adjacent to their new home.

In the last decade of his life, Brent served his community as an expert Accredited Marine Surveyor (AMS), certified through the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors, Inc. (SAMS). He also was a U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Master, as well as a member of the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC). Brent held multiple positions with the Southwest Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America: Assistant Advisor, Crew 3; Assistant Scout Master, Troop 13; and member, Merit Badge Council, Two Rivers District. In addition, he was an NRA firearms instructor, served as Shooting Sports Director for the Southwest Florida Council, attained his Nidan (2nd degree) black belt in Okinawan Karate, was a National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI)-master scuba diver certified by the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI), and a member of the Punta Gorda Elks Lodge #2606. Further, Brent was Boat Crew Qualified and proud to serve with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 98 as the Flotilla Staff Officer for Operations, and Marine Safety and Environmental Protection. In tribute to Brent’s service and sacrifice, the Central New York Association of the Chiefs of Police presented him their coveted Humanitarian Award on October 4, 2021.

Brent will be deeply missed by his bride of 28 years, Tanya Waite Chomyszak; son Daniel (Savanah) Chomyszak of Punta Gorda, FL; brother John (Loretta) Chomyszak of Liverpool, NY; sisters Pam Chomyszak of Sebastian, FL and Nancy (William) McClintock of Black Mountain, NC; mother-in-law Sylvia Waite of Watkins Glen, NY; sisters-in-law Taryn (Ronald) Bath of Collegeville, PA, Tamre Waite of Watkins Glen, NY, and Robin (Frank) LaFace of Watkins Glen, NY; brothers-in-law A. Phillip (Shelley) Waite, Jr. of Alexandria, VA and David (Elizabeth) Waite of Watkins Glen, NY; aunt Joan Stowell of DeLand, FL; 16 nieces and nephews; and 22 great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother Marjorie Stark Chomyszak, father John G. Chomyszak, brother Jeffrey P. Chomyszak, uncle William Stowell, and father-in-law Allan P. Waite, Sr.

A celebration of life service will take place on Sunday, September 18, at Cicero United Methodist Church, 8416 Brewerton Road, Cicero, NY with a shared meal to follow. More details will be released as they become available. A private burial service is scheduled for Monday, September 19, at Lakeview Cemetery, Watkins Glen, NY. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations in Brent’s memory to Tunnel to Towers Foundation (T2T.org).