Al grew up in Livingston. He attended Livingston Public Schools, and graduated with the class of 1953 from Grover Cleveland High School in Caldwell. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he spent four years as an Aviation Structural Mechanic.

Following his Naval service, Al enrolled at the Newark College of Engineering (now NJIT), where he received a bachelor’s degree and later a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. Throughout his career as an engineer, Al worked in the fields of fluid control and air dehydration on projects ranging as far as the space shuttle program. Al was a lifelong motorcyclist, owning many different models over the years. He also enjoyed woodworking, and returning to Maine, where his family originated. His greatest pride and love, however, was his family.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lois Fossett (nee van den Heuvel); his son, Timothy, of Morganton, North Carolina; and his partner Rhonda Cook; and his daughter Amanda (Amy) Hosmer and her husband Terence, of Caldwell, New Jersey.Al is also survived by his brother, David and his wife Judith, of Whitakers North Carolina; and his brotherin- law Jim van den Heuvel and his wife Lisa, of Peachtree City, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers, Al requested that donations be made to the Lupus Research Alliance at give. lupusresearch.org.