Alfred A. Pandiscio

Alfred A. Pandiscio Sr., 95, of Bedford, passed away peacefully on December 4, 2024.

He was the son of the late Michael and Emilia (Fusco) Pandiscio of Lacedonia, Italy and later Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

Born and raised in Fitchburg, Massachusetts,  Alfred was a member of the Fitchburg High School Class of 1947, where he excelled in math and science and served as class valedictorian. He went on to attend Tufts University receiving his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering.  While at Tufts, he first met the love of his life Nancy Burgess, who would later become his wife.  After Tufts, Alfred worked at the Department of Defense Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. reverse engineering German weapon systems confiscated during WWII.  Returning to Massachusetts, Alfred entered Harvard University where he earned his Ph.D. degree in Applied Physics.  

Alfred joined the Harvard Faculty upon graduation, serving over 40 years as Director of the University’s Office of Information Technology, teaching electronics courses and supporting scientists at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Medical School and the School of Public Health in designing and building electronic instruments for use in research and clinical practice.  Alfred was very proud of the thousands of students he taught and mentored over the years, many of whom would return to give thanks to him for helping prepare them for the remarkable careers they were enjoying.  He was also proud to be credited with authoring the1960s editions of the Collier's Encyclopedia section on electronics and to have taught a PBS Television series on the same topic (a before its time predecessor to on-line courses of study).  

Alfred had a wealth of diverse interests and hobbies throughout his life.  He was an aviator, equestrian, handy-man, mechanic, amateur children’s book author, Autobahn Society inspired “birder” and an expert at parking a camping trailer well before cars had cameras to assist.  He was also a dedicated family man whose passion was imparting his immense knowledge and wisdom to his children, in-laws, grandchildren and everyone else whose ears he could catch.  His children believe he inspired the movie National Lampoon Vacation – having taken the Summer of 1972 to tow the family 24-foot Ace Trailer behind his Ford Country Squire (equipped with an extra radiator he had installed) from Massachusetts to Disney Land in Anaheim, California and back; zig-zagging the country on the way so his family could experience the greatness of America first-hand.

Alfred was predeceased by his beloved wife, Nancy (Burgess) Pandiscio in 1998 and his sisters, Mary Young, Filomena Camire and Sylvia Lovewell.

He is survived by his sister Evelyn Bizzotto of Leominster, children, Lillian Cronin and her husband Thomas of Tewksbury, Cynthia D’Alessandro of Milford, Alfred A. Pandiscio Jr. and his wife Karen of Westford  and Paul Pandiscio and his wife Sheila of Duxbury, his grandchildren, Michael Cronin, Michelle Westgate, Sean Cronin, Kaylie Murphy, Craig D’Alessandro, Rory D’Alessandro, Jacob D’Alessandro, Benjamin D’Alessandro, Christopher Pandiscio, Kelsey Pandiscio, Connor Pandiscio, Sydney Pandiscio and Kyle Pandiscio and great grandchildren, Alexandra, Tyler and Rylee.

Visitation will take place at the Bedford Funeral Home, 167 Great Rd., Bedford, on Saturday, December 14, from 8:45-9:45 AM, followed immediately by a funeral service at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at Shawsheen Cemetery in Bedford.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Bedford Community Santa Program, P.O. Box 797, Bedford, MA 01730 (bedfordsanta.com) that provided Christmas Eve Santa visits to our family for decades.