This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: WHL44 Surnames: KOFFEL, NEWTON, BRESKIN, MORRIS, SANDERS Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.michigan.counties.calhoun/4019/mb.ashx Message Board Post: KOFFEL, John Kelly Of Lee, Massachusetts Died Wednesday, June 20, 2007 after an extended illness at the age of 85. He was born on Windfall Farm in Athens, MI on July 22, 1921, to Ruth Kelly Koffel and William Lehr Koffel. John graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with a degree in mechanical engineering and went to work as an aircraft test engineer at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in Hartford, CT. A Merchant Marine veteran of World War II, John worked in the engine room on Liberty Ship routes from South America to Europe and the United States. Later he worked in space technology development at TRW, United Aircraft and ITT. Completing a new manufacturing facility for United Aircraft was one of his proudest accomplishments, an achievement that stands today adjacent to Bradley International Airport in Hartford, CT. John married Barbara Newton in 1948 and they had four children, two boys and two girls, John, Katie, Kim and Carol. John and Barbara divorced in the mid-1970's. In 1976, John and Arline met at! a tennis camp in Amherst, MA. This began their romance with each other and with the Berkshire region. After many years of visits and vacations to the region, they moved permanently to Lee, MA, in 1995. John and Arline lovingly planned and supervised the remodeling of their Berkshire home. They were married there in 1997. John's passion for gardening produced many glorious gardens which continue to be enjoyed by us all. He was also an enthusiastic member of the Berkshire Institute of Lifetime Learning. John is lovingly survived by his wife, Arline Breskin; his sister, Ruth Morris of Kalamazoo, MI; sons, John N. Koffel of Madison, WI and Kim Koffel of Belgium; daughters, Katie Sanders of Ramsey, NJ and Carol Koffel of San Francisco, CA and step-children, Greg Breskin of Pelham, NY, Doug Breskin of Cherry Hill, NJ and Erica Breskin of Monclair, NJ and 13 wonderful grandchildren. A memorial service will be held in the garden of John and Arline's home at 190 Stockbridge Road, L! ee, MA on Wednesday, June 27th at 3:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, memoria l donations may be made in John's name to support the Fellows at Tanglewood Music Center. Please send donations to the attention of Emily Horsford at the Tanglewood Friends Office, 297 West Street, Lenox, MA 02140. Published in the Kalamazoo Gazette on 6/22/2007. (Posted by a VOLUNTEER-NO family connection) Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.