January 16, 2009
Berglund, George A.
George Albert Berglund, a resident of Jamestown, Rhode Island for the past 11 years, and formerly of Westwood for 37 years, died Wednesday, January 14th, 2009 at his home in Jamestown, Rhode Island. He was 89. George was born December 3, 1919 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the son of the late John W. and Alice F. (Graham) Berglund, and grew up in Roslindale. He was a graduate of Hyde Park High School and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston. George served in the Army Air Corps as a Ist Lieutenant during World War Two. He was a fighter pilot, flying a P-47 with the 57th Fighter Group on 110 sorties from bases in Italy and Corsica. He worked for the Armstrong Corporation, Polaroid, and Digital, from where he retired in 1989. George loved flying and for several years he flew his Piper Comanche out of Norwood Airport, where he was a member of the Norwood Airport Association. In addition, he was a member of Orient Lodge AF & AM of Norwood, the Scottish Rite Bodies, Aleppo Temple Shrine of Wilmington, and of the Central Baptist Church of Jamestown, RI. George is survvied by his wife of 64 years, Virginia L. (Peterson) Berglund; his three daughters, Susan Hanson, and her husband Warren of Exeter, NH, Martha Crane, and her husband Donald of Bedford, NH, and Jane Toll, and her husband Job of Jamestown, RI; his sister Barbara F. Goodwin of Bedford, NH; his six grandchildren, Scott and Keith Hanson, Christopher and Camille Crane, and Ben and Alice Toll; as well as two great grandchildren, Nicholas and Katelyn Hanson. Private interment will be in New Westwood Cemetery in Westwood. A Memorial Service will be held at the Central Baptist Church, 99 Narragansett Avenue, Jamestwon, RI on Saturday, February 14th at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the New England Air Museum, 36 Perimeter Road, Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, CT, 06096
Comments(3)
Dear Virginia and Martha:
I’m very sorry for your loss. I only met George a few times, but the last was at Norwood Airport about a dozen years ago when I was taking flying lessons. George and Mark Rogers chatted with me for while and shared some of their pilots’ knowledge. It was clear
how much he loved it.
Martha: I haven’t seen you in many years but I still remember waiting on you as a teller and later when we would have lunch now and again when you were at Harbridge House. It was always the most
intelligent conversation I had in the course of a day. You have been blessed with the only thing any child really needs: two wonderful parents.
Sincerely,
Tom Filbin
To: George’s family
I rarely even look at the Globe obituary column. Somehow, almost by fate, I read of George’s passing.
I worked for and with George during the 1970’s at BASF in Bedford, MA
As a young family man in the early stages of my career, Goerge guided and mentored me as an industrial engineer. During a particularily difficult time in my life he was supportive, caring,and gave freely of his time to assist both me and my wife and young sons.
After George left BASF, we gradually lost contact with one another. As I matured, I thought often of George,and grew even more appreciative of what a kind and gentle man he was!
Please accept my condolenses and know that George has touched my life, and perhaps those of many others who are unaware of his passing.
It comes as no surprise that he has maintained a passion for airplanes and flying.
He was a good man and will be missed by all who knew him well.
He was a good man and will be missed by all who knew him well!
We were extremely proud to have known George.
WE, AT NORWOOD AIRPORT, WILL CERTAINLY MISS HIM.