Steve A. Olesin

Acton, Mass.

Steve Andrew Olesin, 56, and Jane Brechlin Olesin, 53, of Acton, Mass., both died Monday, April 17, 2006, in an automobile accident in Vernon, N.J.

Steve was born on April 21, 1949, in New York City, the son of Andrew and Maria Olesin. He grew up in Iselin, N.J. and graduated from JFK Memorial High School in Iselin. He joined the U.S. Army, serving two tours in Vietnam. He attended Northeastern University.

Steve worked as an engineer for Digital Equipment Corp. for many years, retiring several years ago. He did volunteer work for the Acton Council on Aging, was a member of the Acton Congregational Church and was president of the Eastern Massachusetts Woodworkers Guild. He built guitars and furniture projects, and also taught classes and wrote about his passion. His book, "Tool Making Projects for Joinery and Woodworking" was recently published.

Steve is survived by his mother, Maria Olesin of Wellington, Fla.; his brother and his wife, Andrew and Nancy Olesin of Princeton, Mass.; nieces: Katherine, Emily and Sandra Olesin; and a nephew, Alexander, all of Princeton. His father, Andrew, died in 1991.

Jane was born on May 10, 1952 in Meriden, Conn., the daughter of Howard and Ella Brechlin. She graduated in 1970 from St. Margaret's School in Waterbury, Conn., and graduated from Mount Holyoke College with degrees in Math and Physics, and was one of the first women to earn a Master's in Engineering at Dartmouth College. She also earned an MBA from Simmons College.

She worked for Yale University, Westinghouse, New England Telephone Co., and Digital Equipment Corp. before retiring several years ago. She was a member of the Congregational Church of Acton; the Acton Council on Aging, and was a member and former president of the Acton Garden Club. She enjoyed quilting and making ceramics and jewelry.

Jane is survived by her mother, Ella Brechlin; her sister and her husband, Nancy and Stephen Hoverman of Warwick; a nephew and his wife, David Hoverman and Abigail Smith of Boston, Mass.; a niece, Carrie Hoverman of Berkley, Calif.; and twin nephews, Michael Hoverman of Brookline and Matthew Hoverman of New York City. Her father, Howard, died in 1999.

A Memorial Service to celebrate the lives of Steve and Jane will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, at the Acton Congregational Church, 12 Concord Road, Acton, Mass.

Flowers may be sent to the church or memorial donations may be made to the Nature Conservancy, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, CA 22203, or to a charity of one's choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Ave., Warwick, NY 10990.