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OXON HILL, Md. — With great sadness, the family of Alfred Joseph Babecki announces his passing on Jan. 17, 2015, at his home in Oxon Hill, from complications of pulmonary fibrosis and heart disease.
Born Aug. 23, 1925, in Glen Lyon, Al married Dolores H. Nitkowski on June 26, 1948, in Nanticoke. He was affectionately known to friends and family as "Big Al."
Al, a veteran of World War II, served in the U.S. Army, 1255th Engineer Combat Battalion, during the Battle of the Bulge, in Belgium and Luxembourg. Fifty years later, in 1995, while living in Sebastian, Florida, Al organized the Indian River Chapter of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge and served as the chapter's president for many years.
Al graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science in metallurgy. He worked as a metallurgist, first at ACF in Berwick, then moved to Washington, D.C., in 1956 where he began civil service at the Naval Research Laboratory. In 1962 he joined NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, where he earned patents for chemical processes and resolved spacecraft failures until he retired in 1984.
Al was an active member of professional organizations, including the American Chemical Society, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Society of Lubrication Engineers. When retired, he was active in the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.
Al was civic-minded, a natural organizer and involved in organizations throughout his life no matter where he lived. He served as head lector at St. Thomas Moore Catholic Church, Washington, D.C., for many years. He was post chaplain at the Scott-Johnson-Collins VFW Post 9619 in Morningside, Maryland, and post commander at Post 4425 in Micco, Florida. Later, he transferred to the Melbourne VFW Post 4206 in Melbourne, Florida. Al was a member of the American Legion Post 0366 in Micco as well.
He loved his Polish heritage and formed the Barefoot Bay Polish American Club in 1986, serving as president for many years. Al also took on the role of editor of the club's newsletter and he spearheaded the Barefoot Bay Ethnic Festival a few years later. The ethnic festival was an annual event in Barefoot Bay to offer local clubs an opportunity to highlight their ethnic history and to offer delicacies from their native land. That group remains active today.
Al is survived by his loving wife and dance partner of 66 years, Dolores "Dory" H. Babecki; daughters, Barbara A. Jones and Susan J. Hansborough and her husband, Jeremiah E. Hansborough; son, Steven A. Babecki; four grandchildren, Lindsay D. Hansborough Austin E. Hansborough, Kerry E. Jones and Aleksander K. Babecki. Alfred is also survived by brother, Albert Babetski, Pennsylvania.
Following cremation, Alfred J. Babecki will be inurned in Arlington National Cemetery's Columbarium, honored with a military service.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
3 Entries
Al and I were brothers. We grew up together in the Babetski (Babecki) family grocery business. He left home immediately after graduating from Newport Township High School and entered the army's ASTP program at Virginia Military Institute.Upon receaching his 18th birthday he was sent to basic training and then to the engineers. I was still at home when WWII ended but left after high school in 1947. Alfred was attending Penn State and I was building automobiles in New Jersey. So most of my memories with him were during the 30s and early 40s. I was best man at his wedding and helped him move his family to Maryland. Because of distance seperation we didn't see too much of each other after that. I am the last of 8 siblings. God bless Alfy and the years we did have together.
Albert Babetski
February 28, 2015
My heartfelt condolences to the family during this time of sorrow. (1Corinthains 15:26) (Isaiah 61:1,2) Please find peace in knowing that He understands your grief and He cares. 1 Peter 5:6, 7
Saj
February 4, 2015
I have just found out that my Uncle Alfy Babecki has passed and am totally saddened. He has been a part of my life since I was a young child, now in my mid 70's, and will miss him immensely. My sincere condolences go out to Aunt Dory and her daughters. I do remember his surprise 80th birthday celebration and that was really very, very nice. Uncle Al gave a speech at my 6oth birthday and I will long remember that as well as his eulogy for my mom in 1994. He was such a kind and caring man. God Bless Uncle Al and may he rest in peace after his long illness.
Patti Medd
February 1, 2015
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