Thomas Hall Atkinson

Thomas Hall Atkinson, after a long battle with Alzheimer's, passed away on January 10, 2011. He is survived by his wife of 48 yrs, Merla, daughter Patti, son Lorne and two grandsons, Charlie and Cody Beck. Tom was born in the Bronx, New York City, on September 27, 1925. When he was 2 years old the family moved to Radburn, NJ where he grew up. When he was 17 years old he joined the Navy during World War II. He was stationed on a Destroyer Escort. On his first trip to the Panama Canal he took sick, was taken off the ship and was in the Hospital in Panama for six months. While in the hospital he got to meet Eleanor Roosevelt and enjoyed the short talk they had. He was the first in the Armed services that was given Penicillin. After the services he attended Bradley University in Peoria, IL and graduated as a Mechanical Engineer. He was hired by The Boeing Company from there in 1951. Tom enjoyed the outdoors and particularly fishing and hunting. The family enjoyed vacations to Disneyland, Yellowstone, Canada (to visit relatives) and Alaska. Donations in his name to the Alzheimer's Assn. would be greatly appreciated.