Obituary: Alfred E. Irelan Jr.
Alfred E. Irelan Jr. (Al), son of Alfred E. Sr. and Catherine R. Irelan, passed away Monday, November 16, 2015 surrounded by his family and friends.
Born October 29, 1935 in Providence, RI, Al grew up in Seekonk. He graduated in 1953 from East Senior High School, Pawtucket, RI, where he was an AAU competitive swimmer. He then joined the Navy.
After completing training at the United States Naval Training Center in Bainbridge, MD, Al went on to "Engine School" at the RTC Great Lakes training command. In 1955 he transferred to the icebreaker U.S.S. Glacier (GB 4) for Operation Deep Freeze, which was the first U.S. Navy expedition to Antarctica to set up Little America for winter operations. The site continues operations to this day.
Al was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1956, at which time he entered Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) to study mechanical engineering. Upon graduating from WPI, he took a position at Electric Boat in Groton, CT.
Al married Betty Tanguay in 1966. They lived in and around Boston until 1968 then moved to Groton when Al took a job with Hollingsworth & Vose paper mill. He spent the remainder of his professional career in the paper industry culminating with the establishment of his own consultancy firm, AEI Associates.
Al had a great appreciation for the simple things in life, such as working on projects in his barn or around the yard, and spending time in the outdoors. He was a staunch advocate of recycling and could find or manufacture a use for almost anything. It was, however, the love of time spent with family - both immediate and extended - that Al treasured most. Of recent, he particularly cherished time spent with his granddaughter Audrey.
With his wife Betty and two children, Lisa and Peter, Al enjoyed years of downhill skiing at Mad River Glen where he built a network of close friends. He also adventured to Tuckerman Ravine for springtime skiing. His other interests included tennis, cross-country skiing, hiking and reading.
A celebration of Al's life will be planned for sometime in May 2016.
In lieu of flowers, and in support of Al's love of the outdoors, the family suggests an in-memoriam contribution to one of the following organizations: Friends of the Trees P.O. Box 800, Groton, MA 01450; Nashua River Watershed Association www.nashuariverwatershed.org 592 Main Street, Groton, MA 01450. Please see www.badgerfuneral.com
