ALLAN CLARKSON GREIST

Born: December 3, 1940
Died: January 6, 2011

Allan Clarkson Greist was born in New Haven and grew up in North Haven, son of Norman A. Greist, 1932 S and Dorothy Gertrude Russ Greist. His grandfather Henry C. Russ was also a Yale graduate, class of 1902. Al prepared for Yale at North Haven High School.

Al was a member of Pierson College and an electrical engineering major, a ranking scholar and on Dean's List. He sung in the Freshman Chorus. He was also very active on Pierson's Intercollege Teams — football, squash and touch football.

In Pierson Al roomed with Clay Alderfer, Steve Howard, Jim Pearson, David Alden, Ken Hill and Kent Hughes. Howard recalls that "we were all members of the 1400 Club after our room number. Al's soon to be wife Judy was an honorary member as were some other girlfriends." Clay Alderfer remembers Al "as a very friendly, likeable fellow, temperamentally very much an engineer and excelling in the bench work that went with labs as well as math and science."

After graduation Al served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. His service took him to Colorado Springs where he settled after his release from duty.

Al worked in the computer field for Traffic Data Systems, Safetran, Digital Equipment Corporation and Skyline Products until he retired in 2004. While with Skyline he obtained several patents. In cooperation with Skyline colleagues he also invented a type of light emitting diode device and an automated filter changing device and method.

Al married his North Haven High School classmate Judith, who survives him. They had two children, a daughter Barbara LaTrell, and a son Michael, who died tragically in an accident at the age of 12, November 1, 1978. He also has a grandson, Jay LaTrell, Barbara's son, who lives in Colorado Springs.

Al was an avid hunter of elk and deer, gardener, camper, sailor, irrepressible punster, and long time member of the local model railroad club. He continued his musical interest as a member of the Colorado Springs Chorale for 37 years, and enjoyed reading, computer games, and jigsaw puzzles.

Fellow North Havener Larry Lipsher recalls that after graduation he and Al were both camp counselors at separate camps on a lake in Winsted, in Northwest Connecticut. Each would exchange his camp's sunfish and war canoe for lake fun without the knowledge of their respective superiors.

Al died at his home in Colorado Springs on January 6, 2011. In addition to his wife, their daughter, and grandson, he is survived by his sister Polly Lanius and brother Walter of North Haven, brother David of Evergreen, Colorado and sister Peggy Grant of Grand Junction, Colorado.

The family asked that memorial gifts be made to the Colorado Springs Chorale or The Sleeping Giant Park Association in Hamden, Connecticut.