Obituary of William Habicht

William H. Habicht, of Glastonbury, died at home on Monday, April 25, 2011 with his family present. He was the son of Frank Habicht and Winifred Morley and was born in Buchanan, Michigan on February 10, 1919. He graduated from high school in 1936 as class president and valedictorian and was awarded a scholarship to Cornell University, graduating as a mechanical engineer in 1940. He was enrolled in the Army Officer Training Program and graduated a 2nd Lieutenant in Army Ordinance. Bill was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and Tau Beta Pi. Upon graduation, he was hired by Hamilton Standard as a test engineer. Then, exempted from military service and employed by Hamilton to support the war effort, he worked as a technical representative for USA aircraft manufacturers across the United States. He then played a significant technical and management role in Hamilton Standard's successful postwar transition from a "propellers only" company into a diversified major supplier of aerospace systems. He assisted in the development of the equipment for the Apollo space program including the Lunar Module Abort Sensor Assembly (LM/ASA), which was called upon to return Apollo 13 safely to earth. In 1953 he married Janice Esther Barker of East Hartford, Ct. He leaves Janice, his wife of 58 years, his son Jeffrey Habicht of Colchester, Ct., his son, Todd, and his wife, Holly, of Hebron, Ct. and daughter, Susan, and her husband, Douglas Mayne, of Suffield, Ct.; also seven grandchildren, Kevin, Brian, Cara and Grady Habicht of Hebron, Briana Habicht of Colchester, Benjamin and Henry Mayne of Suffield. He was predeceased by a sister, Jane Todhunter of San Diego, CA and two brothers, Robert Habicht of Buchanan, MI and Richard Habicht of Farmington Hills, MI. In retirement, he kept busy as the secretary of the Glastonbury Water Pollution Control Authority and Chairman of the Engineering sub-committee for 23 years. He was a founding member of the Welles-Turner Memorial Library Second Century Fund and served as President and Treasurer during his tenure. For recreation, Bill enjoyed skiing, tennis, sailing and golf. At age 57, he took up the new sport of windsurfing, and placed in the Senior Nationals at Hilton Head. He was a longtime member of the Hartford Golf Club and the Hartford Ski Club. Bill was a tall man with a twinkle in his eye and a dry sense of humor. He will be missed by his family and many friends. A memorial service will be celebrated Monday May 2 at 11:30am in the Congregational Church of South Glastonbury. (corner of Main and High Sts). Burial will be in Hockanum Cemetery, East Hartford. Friends may call at the Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury on Saturday April 30, from 4-7pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice.