Albert G. Prodell

DR. ALBERT G. PRODELL BURLINGTON - Dr. Albert G. Prodell passed away on Sept. 22, 2009 in Burlington, Vt. A long-time resident of Wading River, N.Y., Albert was living in Vermont the last three years near the family of his son David. He was born Feb. 28, 1925, in Newark, N.J. and in his early years lived in West Orange, N.J., winning a full scholarship to Columbia University. He served in the A.S.T.P. (Army Specialized Training Program) from 1944 to 1946. Albert returned to Columbia and received his PhD in Physics in 1952. Appointed an Assistant in Physics at Columbia, he taught at Barnard College and worked with Professor Polykarp Kusch who later won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1955. Albert joined physicist Jack Steinberger (later, a Nobel Laureate in Physics) at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, N.Y. in 1959, where he worked on many ground-breaking experimental high-energy physics projects and superconducting magnets until he retired in 1999. During his years in Wading River, Albert dedicated his time to many educational and civic organizations, including the Wading River Civic Association, Little Flower Children's Services of New York, and B.O.C.E.S. (Board of Co-operational Educational Services). His longest volunteer tenure and greatest devotion was to the Shoreham-Wading River School District (S.W.R.) where he served for almost 30 years, most of the time as President of the School Board. In recognition of his service, the Shoreham and Wading River communities renamed the middle school in 1994 as the "Albert G. Prodell Middle School," an honor that was very dear to him. One of Albert's great joys was attending the hundreds of concerts, plays and performances held at all of the S.W.R. schools. Albert loved sailing, participated in many athletics (accumulating numerous tennis trophies), enjoyed the company of family and friends, and was very fond of and Ben and Jerry's ice cream and clams-on-thehalf-shell, especially when visiting the Jersey Shore. Albert is survived by his son Michael, wife Annemarie; granddaughter Terese of Wading River, N.Y., son David, wife Sharon and grandson Tobias of Burlington, Vt. He is also survived by his sister Rita and brother John of West Orange, N.J. Albert was predeceased by his ex-wife, Gwendolyn Bober Prodell. Albert's family would like to extend its gratitude to all the doctors, nurses and caregivers who assisted and befriended him at The Converse Home, Fletcher Allen Health Care, Starr Farm Nursing Facility, and Shelburne Bay Senior Living. A memorial service will be held at the Wading River Congregational Church in Wading River, N.Y., on Saturday, Oct. 17th at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York, Memorial Fund, 2450 North Wading River Road, Wading River, New York 11792-1402.