Passion for Aviation
Ted’s Story
By Ted Karas
I’m a proud first-generation American. My parents came from incredibly difficult circumstances.
Both lived in eastern Poland before World War II, a region marked by hardship and instability.
Although they lived in the same area, they didn’t know one another. When the war broke out,
they were forcibly deported to the gulags in Siberia. Years later, after enduring unimaginable
conditions and family deaths, they were released. Their journey eventually led them to Mexico
and, against all odds, to Humboldt Park in Chicago, where they met and married. That’s how my
brother and I came to be.
Growing up as a first-generation child wasn’t easy. My parents sacrificed nearly everything to
give us opportunities. Sending us to private schools despite having very little. There were no
restaurant outings, no new cars, no trendy clothes. Just a few modest vacations to Wisconsin
Dells. But those sacrifices taught me a lifelong lesson: with hard work and commitment, you can
achieve anything.
In high school, I joined the swim team and also the yearbook, where I discovered a passion for
photography. I worked part-time jobs to save up for my first 35mm camera and telephoto lens.
During my senior year, we moved near O’Hare Airport, and I became captivated by the sight and sound of planes taking off and landing. That summer, I’d bike to the airport fence and
photograph the aircraft. This was an experience that sparked my desire to study aeronautics at
the University of Illinois at Chicago and try to pursue aviation.
Before graduating college, I pursued my private pilot’s license. It wasn’t easy. I juggled school,
part-time jobs, and flight training, often sacrificing social life to pay for flight hours. Within nine
months, I earned my license.
I had a strong desire to become a commercial pilot, but job prospects were limited. I visited
O’Hare and spoke to pilots during their downtime. Many shared discouraging stories about the
profession. Hoping for a different path, I considered military aviation and visited a (now defunct)
naval base in Glenview. A commanding officer there candidly told me, “Most of my officers are
flying desks.”
With both paths looking uncertain, I shifted my focus to the engineering side of aviation. I
pursued opportunities in San Diego and landed a role at a gas turbine company, thrilled to be
part of the aerospace world. I worked there for nearly five years before transitioning to rocket
Systems.
Throughout my career, I continued to follow my passion, working for several aeronautical firms
in the Chicago area. Every step has reinforced my belief that if you follow your interests and
commit to the work, your career doesn’t feel like work, it feels like a paid hobby.
