Alexander A. Pastick

December 15, 1923 - April 15, 2014

Alexander (Al) Anthony Pastick, 90, of Windsor Locks Connecticut, passed away into the early morning light of April 15, 2014 with his wife and family by his side.He was born to the late Joseph and Francis Pastick, in Seymour, CT. He worked on the family farm in Seymour. It was there where he first met his future life partner Ellen (Dirzius), a family friend, at the age of 11 years old. Al graduated from Seymour High School. Shortly afterward, WWII started and Al enlisted in the US Army. Al served with the Combat Engineers in the European Theater. Al took some pride in his Expert Rifleman rating, likely helped by his hunting experience on the farm. After his discharge, like many others of the “Greatest Generation,” Al graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BS in Industrial Engineering. The childhood friendship, that started so many years earlier, bloomed into romance. Al and Ellen were married on April 24, 1954 at St Augustine’s in Seymour. With his own hands, Al built the family homestead for Ellen and his three children along the banks of the Housatonic River in Oxford. The house in Oxford was the scene of many good times with family and friends. Al’s career with United Aircraft (Technologies) required several family moves, finally settling in Windsor Locks, CT. It was there, at Hamilton Standard, where Al was a part of the team that contributed to the success of the Apollo Moon missions. After his time in industry, Al went on to teach science and drafting at A. I. Prince Vocational Technical for 7 years, imparting his knowledge, experience and skills to his students while maintaining a presence with his ubiquitous bow tie. Al’s love of music was a lifelong passion. Many a Saturday night included a family sing along with Al at guitar. Early in life Al’s dream was to sing at the Metropolitan Opera. It was always great to hear Al get together with his UConn friends doing barbershop or glee. With retirement Al and Ellen crisscrossed the US and Canada, seeing new sites and making new friends. Every year they would travel from Connecticut in the fall, after enjoying the beauty of the New England foliage, to California to enjoy the weather and live active lives. Al spent the last 25 winters at the aptly named Fountain of Youth Spa by the Salton Sea in Southern California, relishing the “Snow Bird” lifestyle. In the spring they would return to Connecticut to enjoy the spring and summer with family and the many dear friends they made through the years. Ever the engineer, Al always had a project going, be it a new deck or garage or refurbishing a Baja VW with his grandsons. Al is survived by Ellen his beloved wife of 60 years, his dear brother Walter (Ansonia, CT) his loving children Lenny (Mission Viejo, CA), Mark (Santa Cruz, CA), and Alexandria (Shutesbury, MA), his four grandchildren: Michael, Lydia, Angela, and Charlie, and his great grandson Jamison, who all loved him dearly. He was also a strong positive presence in the life of his eight nephews. His sound advice, his penchant for telling a good story and his love of family and friends will be missed, but will live on and within all those he touched. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, June 12, 2014 at 10:30 am at St. Augustine Church, 35 Washington Ave., Seymour, CT. Interment will follow with full military honors at St. Augustine Cemetery, Seymour. In lieu of Flowers, donations may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Niland, CA care of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Box 238 Calipatria, CA 92233.