Victor Di Cristina

Born in New York City on Dec. 18, 1930, the son of Italian immigrants, Mr. DiCristina grew up in Brooklyn where he graduated from Lafayette HS in 1949 and the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1953. He received a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1960 and a completed post graduate studies at MIT in 1962.

During his professional career, Mr. DiCristina taught mathematics at LaSalle College in Philadelphia, Pa., designed aeronautical engineering test laboratories for the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, and pioneered thermal protection design solutions for atmospheric reentry bodies receiving international recognition in the field of high speed fluid dynamics. He was an Associate Fellow and a Lifetime Member Emeritus of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Mr. DiCristina worked for General Electric and the Avco/Textron Co., retiring from Textron, after 28 years, as Director of Thermophysics and Material Sciences. He continued pursuing an engineering career in high temperature thermal protection materials and laser measurement applications at Physical Sciences, Inc. before retiring to Chatham in 2001.

In Chatham since 1974, Mr. DiCristina was active in town government as co-author of Chatham’s Comprehensive Long Range Plan, chairman of the Land Bank and Open Space Committee, and vice chairman of the Community Preservation Committee. He was also a member of the Chatham Retired Men’s Association, serving as its secretary for many years. He enjoyed playing golf, woodworking, and nature time at his lakeside home in Otisfield, Maine. Mr. DiCristina was a member of the St. Joan of Arc Catholic church in Orleans.

Mr. DiCristina is survived by his beloved wife of 62+ years, Geraldine (Fisher) DiCristina, brother: Henry DiCristina of Tarzana, Calif., devoted children: Mark Joseph of Fairhope, Ala., Paul Henry of Sudbury, Jane Marie DiCristina of Sherborn and Kathryn Pace DiCristina-Makaroff of Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren in the US and Canada. He was preceded in death by his son John Fisher of Acton.

There will be a celebration of life service at 11:30am on Monday, February 04, 2019 at St. Joan of Arc Church in Orleans followed by a time of greetings and visitation with the family at the church and a private burial at Peoples Cemetery in Chatham.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made “In memory of Victor Di Cristina” by check to:

Thompson Lake Environmental Association

P.O. Box 25

Oxford, ME. 04270

For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com.