Albert Joseph Stebbins, Jr. of Bow, New Hampshire, former resident of Andover and Lawrence, beloved husband of Ruth Lillian (née Herrmann), died Tuesday morning at the Concord Hospital on, March 26, 2013. He was 87 years old.
Born on September 16, 1925 and raised in Springfield and Southampton, Massachusetts, he was the son of the late Albert Joseph, Sr. and Hermione (née Labonte). At the age of 19, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 86th Infantry ("Blackhawk") Division. He saw combat in Germany during World War II and later served in the Division Chaplain Corps. in the Philippines where he rose to the rank of Sergeant. Following his military service, he attended Springfield College and eventually received his Masters Degree in Geography. He taught history in the Easthampton School system where he met and married his beloved wife, Ruth, of 53 years until her death in 2008. Albert was always an active entrepreneur. He designed, built and managed a motel in Westfield, sold mortgage securities in Springfield, worked for Dr. Wang of Wang Laboratories, designed and built his own house in Andover, designed and marketed a wood burning stove, raised R&D money for a number of inventions, and most recently developed a small startup incubator (www.creativesearch.com).
Albert will be missed by his loving children: Elizabeth and her husband Edwin Mignault of Concord, New Hampshire, Albert and his wife Sonya Stebbins of Batavia, Illinois, Cynthia and her husband Stephen Danforth of Andover Massachusetts, Jeffrey Stebbins and his partner Lap Tran of San Diego, California; by his sister Jacqueline Lambert of Wilbraham, Massachusetts; by his grandchildren Jennifer and her husband Eric McMahon, Stephanie Danforth, Stephen Danforth II, Taylor Mignault and his wife Stephanie, and Alanna Mignault; and by many nieces and nephews.
His Memorial service was held in the Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home, 390 North Main Street, Andover, Saturday, March 30, 2013, at 1:30 PM. Visitation was prior to the service from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. Interment was held in Spring Grove Cemetery in Andover. Donations in Albert's memory may be made to The ALS Center of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (603) 650-5104. For additional information, please visit, www.burkemagliozzi.com.