Albert Bridges Obituary

Albert Peyton Bridges, 86, died peacefully in the company of his loving wife and family Monday, June 20, 2011 in Colorado Springs. Al was born June 15, 1925, in Jackson, Tennessee, the son of Allie and Tom Bridges. He was the youngest sibling to four older sisters, Carrie Maye, Faye, Lucille, and Mary, all deceased. Al lived his life with amazing integrity. He was a selfless, hard-working, and dedicated husband and father, who was a role model to all. His intelligence, positive nature, and humor were present in all of his endeavors. All who knew him are better for it. During World War II, he enlisted with the US Navy and received his commission as Ensign in 1945. He was assigned to the USS Vincennes in the South Pacific. After being released to inactive duty, he obtained a BS degree (major in Physics) from the University of the South (Sewanee). He received his MS (1950) and Ph.D. (1951) in Nuclear Physics from Vanderbilt University. While at Vanderbilt he met Helen Joyce Fowler and then married her in 1949. They celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary on June 14, 2011. Dr. Bridges went to work for Sandia Corporation in Albuquerque, N.M. in 1951 as a research scientist. In 1955 Al joined the Aerophysics Development Corporation in Santa Barbara, and in 1957 he joined a startup company, the Nuclear Division of Kaman Aircraft Corporation. This company moved to Colorado Springs in 1959. International events played an enormous role in the work of Kaman Sciences. During Dr. Bridges tenure at Kaman he was associated with the Polaris, Poseidon and Trident missile systems. The story of Kaman is classic: an innovative and enduring enterprise, which Al guided with vision and integrity as President from 1972 -1991. When he retired after 33 years from Kaman Sciences in 1991, he stated that it was a thrilling experience to take a start up business to a thriving corporation of over 800 people. He felt a strong sense of responsibility toward these people and great humility for all of their work together. His business was an ethical operation that was very successful and achieved the goals set out for. Dr. Bridges believed that his father and mother's generation set the tone for his generation. Marriage was a commitment - there was love for each other and for family that acted as a bond. Honesty was taken for granted. Business contracts were in most cases verbal - a man's word was his bond. There was a belief in the goodness of man. May his children and their kin believe that he set the tone for our generation and generations to come. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joyce Fowler Bridges. She was his dearest friend and love. He is also survived by two daughters, Melinda Bridges Allbright and husband of Denver, Colorado; Margot Bridges and husband of Half Moon Bay, California; and a son, John Bridges and wife of Ft. Collins, Colorado; six grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and many close friends. Al retained to the last his optimism and faith. We give thanks for a life well lived, for a merciful passing, and we will miss him terribly. A remembrance of Al's remarkable life will be held on June, 25, 2011, at the First United Methodist Church of Colorado Springs, commencing at 11 in the morning. All who knew him are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that you offer a service to someone in need.