Albion P. Bjork

Albion P. Bjork, of Lincoln, died Saturday, October 26, 2024, at Emerson Hospital in Concord following a short period of declining health. He was 94.

Son of the late Carl and Gladys (Perham) Bjork, he was a 1948 graduate of Malden High School. From high school, he joined the Navy, serving as a bomber navigator on the U.S.S. Wasp. After his honorable discharge, he attended Tufts University in Medford, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. Al later earned his MBA from Northeastern University. Born and raised in Melrose, he was a Renaissance man—building furniture, mastering photography, designing houses, raising unruly dogs (Schotzie, Roo, Sydney I, Darwin, and Sydney II), researching issues deeply and trying to persuade others that his position was correct, and attending every game, recital, play, and performance of his children and grandchildren that he could.

Al was an inventor of measurement systems. He held seven patents and designed the onboard weighing system on the Boeing 747 and instrumentation on the lunar lander. He worked at Polaroid and was a member of the team that developed the Land Camera. His passion for being his own boss led him to found two companies—Atmos Engineering in the late 70's and Advanced Research and Engineering in the 80's. Even after he retired, he continued to dream up many inventions, especially ones that could save wildlife or the environment.

Al met his late wife, Betty, in college and was immediately smitten. Together they enjoyed traveling with friends and family, sailing, and skiing. He and Betty took their children, Kristen and Jill on many fabulous trips to the Caribbean, a horde of National Parks, Europe, Venezuela, and countless trips in New England.

Al loved his family. He cared for Betty as she became ill at the end of her life. After she passed, he spent his time with his children and his four grandchildren. He adopted his in-laws as his own, sharing Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, and other celebrations with them. As an only child, he remained very close to the Perham side of his family throughout his life. He also was able to focus more on his beautiful home in New Harbor, Maine that he shared with his lifelong friend Diane Lind.

Al never met a person who didn’t comment on his jovial and sweet personality and his accepting nature. His deep belly laugh often filled the air, drawing people to him. His caring neighbors stopped by to see him often and were regaled by the many stories of his exploits near and far. He counted among his friends all of his daughters’ friends, many of whom attended his birthday celebrations.

During his final year, Al joined his family on a river cruise down the Danube, traveling from Nuremberg to Budapest. Despite his physical challenges, Al joined every outing and gamely accepted help from family and strangers alike. His deep voice could be heard echoing in the hallways as he roused the troops on the way to breakfast. Throughout the trip, he beamed and infected people with his laughter.

He leaves his daughters, Kristen Bjork and her spouse Margaret Sandin, Jill Cielinski and her husband Matthew, and his grandchildren, Erik, Cameron, Timothy, and Danica. He also leaves his niece, Joni DiCastro, and her family.

Donations in Al’s memory can be made to the Betty Bjork Professional Development Fund by sending a check made out to the Lincoln Public Schools to the business office of the Lincoln Public Schools, Ballfield Road, Lincoln, Massachusetts, 01773 or the Tufts Class of 1958 Scholarship Fund (checks made out to the Trustees of Tufts College with the Tufts Class of 1958 Scholarship Fund in the memo line and mailed to Tufts University, 80 George Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155). These charities were dear to Al’s heart and continue the family’s legacy and intense belief in the power of education.