Albert R. "Al" Pione

Albert R. "Al" Pione WA3UYJ

Wilmington - Albert R. "Al" Pione, 71 years old, a technician who specialized in the maintenance and repair of electronic systems for the maritime and and transportation industry, died at his home in Wilmington on December 18 after a long illness.

Mr. Pione's early interest in electronics developed when, a young teen, he acquired electronic parts and built communication devices as a hobby. Later, when faced with the possibility of being drafted during the height of the Vietnam War, which he considered unfounded, he joined the U.S. Army and was deployed to Europe as an electronics specialist in the Army Security Agency. On his return to the U.S., he worked at the former Phoenix Steel Corporation in Claymont DE, and the Maritrans Corporation in Philadelphia PA. Later he worked at the PATCO (Port Authority Transit Corporation) facility near Camden NJ; he retired from PATCO in 2014. Mr. Pione was a member of Local 676 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He studied at Drexel University and held an Associate Degree from the Delaware Technical and Community College. Active in the HAM radio community for many years, Mr. Pione held an Advanced Amateur Radio License from the Federal Communications Commission and used the call sign WA3UYJ.

Mr. Pione leaves a wife of fifty-two years, Linda W. Pione, of Wilmington DE; a son, Richard C. Pione and a daughter Shannon M. Pione, both of Wilmington; a brother, Michael J. Pione, of Brooklyn NY; a brother, Anthony E. Pione, of Irvine, CA; and a niece and nephews.

Friends may call at the McCrery & Harra Funeral Home, 3924 Concord Pike (Rt. 202 South of Silverside Road) Wilmington, DE 19803 on Friday, Dec. 28, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. A funeral service will be held the next day at 2:00 p.m. at the Funeral Home. Burial will be on Monday, December 31, at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear DE, at 1pm.To send condolences visit: www.mccreryandharra.com.