Edmund Russell Altonji

Edmund Russell Altonji, age 80 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at his residence.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, November 13, 1924, son of the late Shafik and Najibe Altonji, he had resided in Raritan Township the past eleven years, having previously resided in East Haddam, CT and Oakland, NJ.

A 1951 graduate of Polytechnic University, Brooklyn, NY with a Bachelor of Engineering degree, Mr. Altonji was on the engineering staff of ITT Avionics Division, Nutley, NJ from 1951 to 1987 when he retired as a Senior Technical Consultant. While at ITT, he worked on air traffic control and navigation systems, radar and sonar trainers, anti-submarine warfare systems and electronic warfare systems. He published numerous technical papers and was awarded two patents for his work.

Mr. Altonji was a US Army Veteran of World War II and served in both the European and Pacific Theaters as a member of the 222nd Regiment, the 42nd Infantry Division and the 62nd Signal Batallion.

A Ham Radio Operator whose call sign was W2RJW, Mr. Altonji was a Communicant of St. Magdalen Church, Flemington, NJ as well as a past member of the Knights of Columbus, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Military Operations Research Society and was on the Oakland, NJ Board of Ethics for seven years, serving two years as its Chairman.

Surviving are his wife of fifty-five years, Doris Jacqueline Merhige Altonji; four sons, Thomas Altonji of Jersey City, NJ, Joseph Altonji of Madison, CT, Paul Altonji of Glastonbury, CT and John Altonji of Kinnelon, NJ; a daughter, Rosemary Pfreundschuh of Bridgewater, NJ; six grandchildren, Christopher and Steven Altonji of Glastonbury, CT, Matthew and Mary Altonji of Madison, CT and John and Sarah Pfreundschuh of Bridgewater, NJ; and three brothers, John Altonji of Whitehouse Station, NJ, Joseph Altonji of Scottsboro, AL and James Altonji of Ronkonkoma, NY.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 10 a.m. in St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Interment will follow in St. Magdalen Cemetery, Flemington, NJ. Calling hours will be Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Funeral Home. Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information or to send condolences.

Memorial Contibutions may be made to Catholic Charities, 6 Park Avenue, Flemington, NJ 08822.