Edwin N. Broden,98, formerly of Elm St., Assonet and most recently Marion, Ma., died Nov. 6, 2003 at Sippican Healthcare Center after a short illness.
Mr. Broden was a retired inventor/tool engineer/machine designer at the former Firestone Rubber and Latex Production Co. in Fall River, Ma. having worked there from 1940-1970.
During World War II, Mr. Broden received a letter of commendation from Major General William N. Porter, Chief of Chemical Warfare, Washington, DC for "his ingenuity in the designing, improving and improvising which aid in the production of gas masks for the Chemical Warfare Service. The inventions of Edwin Broden and many shortcuts in production for which he is responsible are too numerous to mention."
Mr. Broden was also responsible for other inventions which benefited other branches of the service including the helmut piercing and bushing inserter machines as well as a score of other seemingly inconsequential items which expedite production.
While at Firestone, he built 25 machines with 12 patents in his name. He also designed the tooling equipment that trimmed the crash pads when they came out of the molds and cut holes so that they could fit the 1960 Ford Falcon.
In 1970, after his retirement from Firestone, he sold his Assonet home and bought a home in Marion where he maintained a small machine shop and kept busy with a number of other companies.
In the mid seventies he designed and developed the Auto-Pal, an automatic pallet feeding system in association with the Litchfield Pallet Co. of Brockton. He also did work for the Rex-cut Co., Burns Saw and Machinery and A.J. Mitchell Co., all of Fall River.
Mr. Broden enjoyed skiing, skating and boating where he maintained a summer home with his family in Mattapoisett from 1950-1970.
Born in Kristala, Sweden, Jan. 3, 1905, he immigrated to Ellis Island, New York at the age of 18 over his parental objections to his engineering career.
He lived with relatives and on his own for many years in the Boston area while taking engineering and mechanical courses at the Boston Trade School and Franklin Institute.
He married his wife, Esther Rodberg, also a Swedish immigrant in 1940. She died in 2000.
He leaves two sons, Clark of Framingham and John of Lakeville; two grandchildren, Dave Broden of Attleboro and Kristin Brody of Ashland; daughter-in-law Marcy, grandson-in-law James Brody; great-grandson, Colin Brody; as well as his companion, Anna Maguire of Mattapoisett, Ma.In addition, he leaves a sister, Martha Carleman, a niece, Ewa Andreason and a nephew, Ingemar Carleman, all of Sweden, as well as many other relatives in both Sweden and the US.
Mr. Broden became a US citizen soon after he moved to the US and traveled back and forth many times between the two countries. He was a member of the Masons and Vasa, a Scandinavian social group and a longtime member of the Assonet Finance Committee.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Masonic Service in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6) MattapoisettSunday, November 16th at 4 PM followed by remembrances from family and friends. The day will conclude with a reception at the Holiday Inn Express, 110 Middle St. Fairhaven, MA.
Visiting hours Sunday, November 16th from 2-4 PM.
Interment private.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Marion Emergency Medical Services, 2 Spring St., Marion, MA 02738.