Aldo Francis Barsotti

Aldo Francis Barsotti (or “Nonno” as his grandchildren called him) left this world peacefully at his home in Arlington, Virginia in the early morning hours of March 4, 2024. He was 88 years old. Born in 1936, Aldo grew up in the historic Pullman area of Chicago, Illinois with his brother Franco, sister Agnes, mother Tarsilla, and father Alfredo.

As an adult, the loves of his life were his wife Dana, his family, aviation, geology, and his Italian heritage, particularly the Tuscany/Lucca region.

After college, he earned his pilot’s license and joined the United States Air Force. As part of his service, he was responsible for testing aviation fuel near Seville, Spain.

He later worked as a chemist and raw materials expert for Sherwin Williams for almost two decades. In the mid-1970’s, Aldo earned his doctorate degree in Earth Sciences from Case Western Reserve University, where he was part of a 7-member team (sponsored by the prestigious Club of Rome) that built the Mesarovic/Pestel World Integrated Model, an internationally respected model of the planet’s resources for global use in policy decisions.

In 1979, he joined the U.S. Bureau of Mines, which later became the U.S. Geological Survey, as a government and industry advisor regarding the nation’s industrial minerals. Among other things, he successfully managed federal survey and intelligence activities on domestic and international industrial minerals industries, and established Government-industry agreements. He retired as the Chief of the Industrial Minerals Section of USGS in 2002. Along the way, he received multiple awards including the national Piekarz Award, and the Herbert Hoover Award.

In addition to his profession, Aldo spent 25 years volunteering as a docent for the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. He will be honored by his loved ones on the Wall of Honor at their Chantilly location. He also loved traveling the world, including northern Italy, the diamond mines of South Africa, and Australia, to name just a few.

Aldo is survived by his wife Dana, and his two children and four grandchildren, four brothers-in-law, and many cherished cousins, nephews and nieces and their children. Services will be held on March 17, 2024 at 11:00 am EST in person at Murphy Funeral Home at 1102 W Broad Street, Falls Church, Virginia, 22046, and also live streamed. Aldo will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation towards placing his name on the Wall of Honor at the National Air and Space Museum by clicking here, https://airandspace.si.edu/support/ways-give and entering the name Aldo Barsotti in the honoree field at checkout.

A memorial service for Aldo will be held Sunday, March 17, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Murphy Funeral Homes, 1102 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046, followed by a reception from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.