John Alexander
Old Lyme — John “Jack” Audley Alexander, 86, of Old Lyme, passed away Tuesday, March 28, 2017, in Mahwah, N.J.
Jack was born Feb. 3, 1931, to Audley M. and Lillian (Flygare) Alexander, in Swissvale, Pa. Jack attended Carnegie Technical Institute where he was ROTC and played the clarinet in the Kiltie Band. He graduated with his metallurgical engineering degree and was deployed to Korea in 1954. Jack served until his discharge as a first lieutenant in 1956. He met his beautiful bride, LaVerne Eleanor Manion, before he was deployed and they married in 1956 upon his return to Pittsburgh, Pa.
In 1956, Jack began a long career in engine casting and aeronautics. He led a large TRW lab team that produced key engine components (particularly the titanium alloy thrust chamber) for the Apollo Lunar Module. He had more than two dozen professional publications and three patents.
His work brought this family to live in seven states, making Old Lyme home for the past 27 years. He travelled to over 17 counties and near the end of his career his consulting work took him to Japan for multiple visits over two years — where he was referred to as Jack-san, the giant with a giant mind — a reference to his impressive height at 6’4”.
Jack loved to write, hike and herd plovers on the shoreline as he walked. He took great interest in local and national politics and hundreds of his letters were published in newspapers throughout the country. He was an active advocate for civic involvement. He had good ideas that he shared openly. As an avid letter writer, his grandchildren have treasured letters filled with guidance and knowledge to lead them through their lifetime. He hiked daily and often quoted J.R.R. Tolkien “Not all who Wander are Lost” — reminding us to always be aware of the treasures around us if we pay attention.
Jack is survived by his wife of 60 years, LaVerne; sons, John Jr., David and Daniel; daughters, Pamela Jayne, Tina Albrecht and Bonnie Rizzuti; grandchildren, Jenny, Ashleigh, John III, Katherine, Lauren, Wolfgang, Eric, Julia, Kyle, Grace and Eddie; and great-grandson, Jordan; brother-in-law, Edwin Manion; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jack was interred at the National Veterans Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Bridgeville, Pa. with a 21-gun salute on April 21, 2017.
A memorial service will be held in his name at 9:30 a.m. July 9, 2017, at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in Old Lyme, the family will host a coffee hour reception post-service to share memories with friends and neighbors.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: John Audley Alexander Scholarship Fund, c/o Carnegie Mellon Unv. Schship Endmt., P.O. Box 371525, Pittsburgh, PA 152517525.