| Obituary | PITTSFIELD -- Albert Miller Van Blarcom, 83, died Monday at the Wilmington Health Care Center in Wilmington. He and his late wife, Anne, were longtime residents of both Pittsfield and Sarasota, Fla.
Born in Passaic, N.J., on May 23, 1923, he was the son of Nelson D. and Martha Martin Van Blarcom, he graduated from Newark College of Engineering in 1947, majoring in electrical engineering. He went on to earn his master's degree in engineering from Union College in Schenectady, N.Y.
He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving as an electronics officer in Europe. He was honorably discharged Aug. 14, 1946, from the Army Air Corps.
Mr. Van Blarcom was employed by General Electric Co. as an electrical engineer. While there, he designed elements for computers used in several Air Force bombers and fighter planes. He worked in that department from 1947 until being transferred to ordnance systems in early 1960. There, he worked on projects for the Polaris and Poseidon programs. Prior to his retirement in 1986, he was the project engineer for the design of the stabilization system for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, allowing it to fire on the move. This vehicle was used most recently in the Gulf War and Iraq.
Mr. Van Blarcom enjoyed playing golf, bridge, gardening and sailing. He was a lifetime member of the Wahconah Country Club in Dalton, as well as a member of the Bobby Jones Country Club in Sarasota, Fla. He was also a Bronze Life Master in the American Contract Bridge Association.
He and his wife, the former Anne Hartnett, were married Feb. 18, 1950. She died in October 2004. Besides his wife, he leaves three daughters, Patricia Van Blarcom of Wilmington, Susan Elisabeth Sassi of Bow, N.H., and Catherine Marie Gee of Novi, Minn.; and five grandchildren.The Berkshire Eagle, October 19, 2006
FUNERAL NOTICE -- Calling hours for Albert Van Blarcom, who died Monday, Oct. 16, 2006, will be held Friday, Oct. 20, from 4 to 7 p.m. at WELLINGTON FUNERAL HOME in Pittsfield. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, celebrated by the Rev. James Joyce, pastor of Sacred Heart Church. Donations in his memory may be made to the Salvation Army through the funeral home, 220 East St., Pittsfield, MA 01201.
He was affectionately known as Van, and as the beloved and devoted husband of his late wife, Anne R. Van Blarcom. He was the loving and devoted father of their three daughters. He also leaves five loving grandchildren, Jonathan Sassi, Kenneth Gee, James Gee, Elizabeth Gee and Beth Morris; and his two sons-in-law, Randal Sassi and William Gee. Albert Van Blarcom was a very well-respected electrical engineer. |
