Alf Ingemar Ragnar Jonsson

"Alf Ingemar Ragnar Jonsson, 72, died on July 22nd with his wife Birgitta, and his children Tobias and Anna at his side. His daughter Kristina was there in spirit. Born in Lindesberg, Sweden, June 11, 1934, he was the son of the late Ragnar J. Jonsson and Astrid Jonsson (nee Malmberg) of Hallefors Sweden. Alf was formerly of West Suffield, CT and West Hartford, CT, having moved from Stockholm in 1972. Mr. Jonsson was a nuclear physicist and graduated from the Royal Institute of Technology of Stockholm in 1959. His life's work was in the field of Nuclear Energy. As a nuclear physicist he was instrumental in the advancement of the use of the element Erbium for nuclear energy, receiving a patent for this advancement in the field. He was also honored for his contribution in the nuclear energy field by being named as a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society in 1993. He was an avid sailor and enjoyed sailing the Swedish Archipelago, Long Island Sound, as well as the Caribbean Islands. He was also an enthusiastic weekend farmer, tending to his 20 acres in West Suffield, growing such things as strawberries, raspberries, pumpkins, and melons. When not on his sailboat, he was often seen on his tractor tending to his crops. In his later years he enjoyed accompanying his wife and dogs to numerous dog agility trials in New England and beyond. He will be deeply missed by his wife of 48 years, Birgitta (Britt) Charlotta Jonsson (nee Larsson), of Granby MA along with his children, Anna Margareta Jonsson and her partner Monica Percival, of Granby MA, Tobias Lars Jonsson and his partner Joy Fincher of Phoenix AZ, and Kristina Astrid Thames (formerly Murray) and her husband Gene Thames, along with her children Angela Murray, Christopher Murray, and former husband Vincent Murray III, all of Atlanta GA. He also leaves a sister Margareta Silenstam and her husband Stellan Dahlgren of Uppsala Sweden, his nieces Katarina Silenstam and Elisabet Holmgren and her husband Bert Holmgren, along with their children Niklas Holmgren and Klara Holmgren, all of Uppsala Sweden. His dogs, Eager, a Harrier, and Skye a Shetland Sheepdog will also miss his presence. A memorial service will be arranged at the discretion of the family. Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in Alf's name to the National Parkinson Foundation, Inc. 1501 N.W. 9th Ave/ Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136-1494, and/or the Alzheimer's Association, Western Mass. Regional Office, 153 Magazine St. Springfield, MA 01109."