Just an FYI...
I wanted to let everyone know that Rick Engstrom - President of Velocity's Owners Group, dad has passed away. He was 91 years old.
Rick's dad was fortunate to have a long and happy life. He was the one that was responsible for getting Rick into boating and he and Rick spent many years enjoying boating together. Rick was very close to his dad so our hearts go out to him and the Engstrom family.
If anyone would like to contact Rick, his new email addess is:
raengstrom@cavtel.net
Services will be held this Friday in Skippack PA.
John Engstrom
John "Art" Engstrom of Blue Bell died March 24, 2008 at Montgomery Hospital. He was 91.
He was the husband of Alice (Johnson) Engstrom for over 51 years, and was previously married to the late Winifred Sturre.
Born in Minneapolis, Minn., he was the son of the late John and Clara Engstrom of St. Louis Park, Minn. He attended the University of Minnesota and was a member of the Kappa Eta Kappa fraternity. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota and attended both Harvard and M.I.T on a post-graduate basis.
During World War II, Mr. Engstrom served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps as a captain. He set up communications networks in the European theatre and he worked with Army Intelligence in South America to detect and triangulate enemy radio traffic. Of special note, he conducted ground-breaking radar wave propagation research which facilitated tracking aircraft over open ocean waters.
Upon discharge from the Army, he worked for General Electric Corp. and then joined Engineering Research Associates/Remington Rand Corp. in Minneapolis, where he was a key design team member of the world's first commercial digital computer - the UNIVAC 1. His pioneering work in the computer field resulted in many technological advancements in such areas as electronic memory and magnetic tape storage. He retired from Sperry Corp. (now Unisys) in 1983 as a strategic planning director but most fondly recalled his days as an engineer in the computer industry's formative years.
After retirement, he remained in Blue Bell and developed a passion for golf, and enjoyed boating and working on numerous projects with his son, Richard, and grandson David. He was also a loyal Phillies fan.
Mr. Engstrom was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Center Square, where he had served on council, finance and property committees.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Richard Engstrom of Ambler and John Engstrom of Glendale, Ariz.; two daughters, Pam DeSanti of Phoenix, Ariz., and Linda Engel of Fort Myers, Fla.; a stepdaughter Linda Catherwood of Fort Washington; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild. He was preceded in death by a sister, Laverne Hoefferle.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his memorial service at 2:30 p.m. March 28 at the R. L. William, Jr. Funeral Home Inc., Skippack Pike @ Cedars Rd., Skippack, where friends may call from 2 to 2:30 p.m. Interment will be private.
The family requests that his friends remember him by assisting an organization or cause near to each of their own hearts.