Alan Schofield, 84, a longtime resident of Reading, passed away peacefully at the Sawtelle Family Hospice House on Friday evening, October 14. He was the loving husband of Anne (Doolan) Schofield.
Born and raised in Fall River, he was the son of the late Walter and the late Agnes (Chadwick) Schofield. Alan earned a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He then went on to Officer Candidate School and enlisted as an officer in the Navy upon graduation. Alan served on the USS Shangri-La during the Cuban Missile Crisis, earning his Honorable Discharge in 1962 at the rank of Lieutenant.
Alan worked for Avco and later for Textron in Wilmington. Beginning as an electrical engineer, he then went on to work as a subcontracts manager. Alan also furthered his education, earning a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management from Northeastern University. He retired in 2000.
Alan and his wife Anne enjoyed traveling, especially their trips to Europe. Alan was an avid woodworker and enjoyed making furniture for his family in his well-appointed workshop. As he became less able to use his woodworking skills, Alan donated much of his equipment and tools to the North East Regional Vocational School.
In addition to his wife Anne, Alan is survived by one daughter, Christine Downey and her husband Kevin of Reading; one son, Jeffrey Schofield of Georgia; and he was preceded in death by one daughter, the late Julie McNamara of Hopkinton, who died in 2017. Alan is also survived by seven grandchildren, Grant, Maxwell, and Emma McNamara, Jennifer and Michelle Downey, and Jackson and Meghan Schofield. Alan was also predeceased by one sister, the late Judith Schofield of Fall River.
A funeral service will be held at the Douglass, Edgerley & Bessom Funeral Home, 25 Sanborn St., Reading on Wednesday, October 19 at 12:00 Noon. Visitation will be prior to the service on Wednesday from 10:00-12:00. Burial will be at the Wood End Cemetery in Reading.
Contributions in Alan’s memory may be made to the Schofield Family Memorial, Reading Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 492, Reading, MA 01867 (www.readingsf.org); or the Lahey Health Cancer Institute, c/o Lahey Hospital & Medical Center Gift Processing, 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215 (giving.bilh.org)
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