Donald Alexander
Donald Alexander, resident of Clark Fork, was born in Fitchburg, Mass., on Sept. 21, 1921, and passed away in Sandpoint, Idaho, on Dec. 12, 2007.
Memorial services will be scheduled later in Phoenicia, N.Y.
He graduated from Fitchburg High School in 1939 with honors and in 1943 from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) with high distinction. He did graduate studies at Princeton University, MIT, and WPI.
During World War II he served in the submarine service resigning from the U.S. Naval Reserve with the rank of lieutenant commander.
He taught for 10 years at WPI as assistant professor of electrical engineering while serving as a consultant to the radio, electronic and manufacturing industries.
In 1952, he left the academic world and entered the industrial scene. He became the chief engineer of Surprenant Manufacturing Co. Surprenant was later acquired by ITT Industries and he became technical director for the worldwide wire and cable activities of ITT. This involved telephone cable, power cables, submarine telephone cables, and specialized wire and cable in the United States, Europe, and the Far East.
He was an Eagle Scout and served a scoutmaster and troop committee chairman for several years. He, and his wife, Charline, moved to Clark Fork in 1996 and have resided there since that time.
He was a registered profession engineer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a fellow of the AIEE (American Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers), a member of the Wire Association, and an associate of Sigma XI.
He leaves a wife, Charline Grogan.; three biological children, Dr. Nancy Alexander of Roswell, N.M., Bruce Alexander of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., and Scot Alexander of Swanzee, N.H.; and three adopted children, Margaret Lynaugh of Ridgewood, N.J., Mary Ellen Curley of Wappinger's Falls, N.Y., and Gerry O'Connor of Dover, Del. He has 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren
Family and friends are invited to visit Donald's Web site, and sign his guest book, at www.coffeltfuneral.com.
Final arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.