Alfred Barten

ALFRED BARTEN

Northampton, MA - Alfred Barten of Northampton, formerly of Conway died on November the 17th at Fisher Hospice Home in Amherst. Born in 1939 in Glen Ridge, NJ, he was 85 years old. He is survived by his partner Heather McLaughlin of Northampton, his older sister Jeanne Hawthorne, his younger brother David Barten and younger sister Grace Larson all now of Northampton, MA. He also leaves his nephew Stephen Shaffer of Queens, NY, and niece Susannah Ruibal of S. Amboy, NJ. He was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Linda Virshup Barten.

Al, as he was known, had an impressive list of accomplishments. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1964, first in his class in Architectural Engineering. He worked for several architectural firms, including Wolf & Hahn in Allentown, PA; SMS in New Canaan, CT; Christ-Janer, Johansen, Kouzmanoff in New Canaan; and EYPK in Albany, NY; and at one time ran his own office. For his second career, he became a technical writer and retired from General Dynamics in Pittsfield in 2005.

Al was an avid rail fan and co-founder of the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum in the early 1990's. He was a frequent contributor to rail fan and rail modeling publications, including Railfan & Railroad, Railroad Model Craftsman, Locomotive & Railway Preservation and Electric Lines, as well as various societal publications. He used his love of photography to accompany his articles and also recorded over 600 photos of Northampton during the pandemic years. He donated the Northampton photos to the Northampton Historical Society.

Many of his photos are incorporated in 16 slide show videos on YouTube, listed under Alfred Barten.

Al was a frequent contributor and member of the Orion Magazine Editorial Board in the 1990's.

Al was a musician at heart. In recent years, playing clarinet and saxophone in area community bands including the Greenfield Military Band, the Florence Community Band and the Senior Band in Holyoke. He also played mandolin and banjo with the Farley String Band and the Fiddle Orchestra of Western Massachusetts.

It was in Al's quiet presence, his curiosity, humor, and openness to the flow of life around him that made him so special. Always unassuming, he was always pleasantly surprised so many people were drawn to him and to his activities. He will be missed.

Calling hours will be Saturday, November the 29th from 2:00 to 4:00 at Czelusniak Funeral Home, 173 North Street, Northampton. Donations in his memory may be made to The Fiddle Orchestra of Western Massachusetts, P.O. Box 182, Northampton, MA 01061; Florence Community Band, P.O. Box 60092, Florence, MA 01062; Hospice of the Fisher Home; or to the ACLU.

Please go to Czelusniakfuneralhome.com for online condolences and tribute book.