Edward J. Bleser

1935 - 2010
Edward Johnson Bleser, of Bellport, NY, died on March 18, 2010. Dr. Bleser was a physicist who worked on the design and development of particle accelerators at two national laboratories.
The son of Edward M. and Lillian Bleser, he was born in New York City, on June 11, 1935. He grew up in Middlebury, CT, attended the nearby Taft School. He also attained the rank of Eagle Scout. A 1957 graduate of Amherst College, he received a Ph.D. in physics from Columbia University in 1963. He was first employed at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island from 1963 to 1968, and then moved to Fermi National Laboratory in Illinois. In 1978, he returned to Brookhaven National Laboratory until his retirement in 2000. During his tenure at the laboratories, Dr. Bleser collaborated on a number of high-energy physics projects.
Dr. Bleser, a Bellport resident for more than thirty years, was active in village. He served as Secretary of the Bellport Historical Preservation Commission from its inception until his death, and was involved in generating the Historic Preservation Guidelines to ensure the preservation of Bellport's many historic homes. He was also active in the Bellport-Brookhaven Historical Society. Dr. Bleser was an avid reader and lover of history who never met a book he did not befriend.
He is survived by his beloved wife of forty-five years, Dr. Carol K. Bleser. He is also survived by his son Gerald Rothrock and daughter-in-law Elizabeth of McLean, VA, and his adored granddaughter, Caroline. He is predeceased by his only sibling, Warren, who died in a climbing accident on the Matterhorn many years ago.
Visitation will be held at the Munson-Lovetere Funeral Home, 2 School St., Woodbury, CT, at 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. Burial in the Middlebury Cemetery will follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bellport-Brookhaven Historical Society, P.O. Box 47, Bellport, NY 11713.