Arcangelo "Angelo" Vincent Arecchi

Arcangelo "Angelo" Vincent Arecchi, born on August 8, 1943, in Jersey City, New Jersey, passed away on March 28, 2024, at the age of 80. He was the son of the late Vincent and Catherine Arecchi. Angelo attended St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City before pursuing higher education. He graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, and throughout his life remained in close contact with his USCG Academy classmates, their spouses, and their class advisor. Continuing his studies, he earned an M.S. in Optics/Optical Sciences from the University of Rochester in New York and an M.B.A. from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. Angelo served his country with distinction in the U.S. Coast Guard for 23 years, rising to the rank of Captain. Over the course of his Coast Guard career he held numerous positions, including his final posting prior to retirement as the Commanding Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Station in South Portland, Maine. Angelo's early career saw him complete rigorous training as a Deep-Sea Diver with the United States Navy, followed by his service as a diver on the icebreaker the USCGC Burton Island, participating in a series of missions to Antarctica, crossing the equator and the Antarctic Circle numerous times. Upon retiring from the U.S. Coast Guard in 1988, Angelo transitioned into the private sector, working for 13 years as Vice-President for Engineering at Labsphere in New Hampshire. After his retirement, Angelo continued to work part-time as an Optical Engineer and Consultant through his LLC, Sunrise Instruments, as well as at SphereOptics, and Labsphere in New Hampshire. An accomplished researcher and author, Angelo contributed significantly to the field of optical engineering, co-authoring the "Field Guide to Illumination" and authoring "Photometric Engineering of Sources and Systems" and "Illumination and Source Engineering," along with numerous articles for professional publications. While in the U.S. Coast Guard, one of Angelo’s postings was as a faculty member at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, an experience which sparked in him a love of teaching. After retirement from the U.S. Coast Guard, he was an Adjunct Instructor of Business and of Engineering Technology to undergraduate and graduate students at Norwich University, Plymouth State University, and UNH-Manchester. Angelo’s commitment to education extended to his recent volunteer work with the X-Labs at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where he served as a group mentor. Before and after his retirements he served on Boards of Directors for organizations including the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, the Council on Radiation Measurement (CORM), and the Friendly City Food Co-op. At the time of his passing, he was serving on the Executive Council as the Past President of the US National Committee of the International Commission on Illumination (CIE-USNC). Angelo was an avid swimmer, an ardent sailor, an excellent cook, a Stephen Sondheim aficionado, and a passionate fan of the NY Yankees. Above all, he was lovingly committed to his family. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 47 years, Kathleen H. Arecchi, with whom he lived in Hebron, NH, prior to her passing, and his subsequent move to Harrisonburg, VA. He is survived by his daughter, Kate Arecchi of Harrisonburg, VA, his brothers, Vinnie Arecchi of Toms River, NJ, and Justin Arecchi of San Antonio, TX, along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. In honor of Angelo's legacy, memorial donations may be made to the scholarship he created to honor his late wife, the Kathleen H. Arecchi Memorial Scholarship at Plymouth State University, University Advancement, 17 High Street, MSC 50, Plymouth, NH 03264-1595. Private services will be held at a later date for close family.