Randolph Bretton

BRETTON, RANDOLPH HENRY Randolph Henry Bretton, 96, of Hamden, passed away on April 7, 2014. He was born in Wolfeboro, NH on April 1, 1918, to the late William and Albina Valley Bretton. Randolph is survived by his wife, Jeannette L’Heureux Bretton; daughters, Nancy Hannans and her husband Albert of Waldorf, MD and Susan Bretton of Hamden; son, Randolph H. Bretton Jr. and his wife Jenny of Bellville, IL; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his siblings, William Bretton, Arlene Levesque, and Doris Ethier. Randolph graduated from Brookfield High School in 1935 as class valedictorian. He received a Bachelor of Science degree with “high distinction” in chemical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He stayed on to earn a Master of Science. He later received a Doctorate of Engineering from Yale University and an Honorary Doctorate from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. During World War II, Randolph served in the U.S. Navy as a radar and communications officer. He was a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Yale University for over 20 years. While at Yale, he was also a consultant in the field of nuclear engineering and thermodynamics and a visiting associate scientist at Brookhaven National Laboratory. He was an advocate for nuclear safety and spoke out early on against using the ocean as a dumping ground for high-level radioactive waste. He later worked as a chemical engineer at National Distillers. Randolph lived in Hamden with his wife Jeannette for over 60 years. His pastimes were reading, fishing, playing with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be remembered most of all for his love of his family. Friends are invited to visit with his family on Sunday, April 13 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden. His Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated in St. Stephens Church, Hamden, at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 14. Burial with Military Honors will take place after Mass in Mary Queen of the Rosary Cemetery in Spencer, MA. Contributions in Randolph’s memory may be sent to St. Stephens Church, 400 Ridge Rd., Hamden, CT 06517. To send a condolence to the family, please see obituary at www.beecherandbennett.com