Ad Astra: GEORGE W. MATRIGALI, 1 June, 2007

GEORGE W. MATRIGALI PORT ORANGE George W. Matrigali, husband and father, passed peacefully on Friday, June 1, 2007, at the Hospice Care Center in Port Orange. Visitation is scheduled at Bal dwin Brothers Funeral Home in New Smyrna Beach on Monday, June 4th from 4-6 p.m., followed by a prayer service and remembrances until 7; a Memorial Mass will take place on Tuesday, June 5th at 11 a.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, New Smyrna Beach. Thereafter, the family will receive friends at Edgewater Landing Clubhouse from 1-5 p.m. George was born on October 18, 1932, in North Adams, MA. He married Elaine Morin (also of North Adams) in 1954, during his USAF service, and they began their 53 year life together in El Paso, TX. He followed his career in aeronautics to New York, to Vermont, to Alabama, and finally to Satellite Beach, FL, remaining there with his family throughout the early years of NASAs space program. In 1973, he went to work for the Coast Guard modernizing major aids to navigation refitting lighthouses up and down the east coast with solar energy. He always remembered his years with the Coast Guard as the best in his working life. By 1978, he was with the Department of Defense in Washington, D.C.; in 1996, he and Elaine retired from government service together and moved to Edgewater, FL. George never met a stranger and made long-lasting friend ships everywhere he went ... he was never too busy or too tired to lend a helping hand to any one in need. He was loved by all; though the loss is great, his family receives comfort in their faith that he is finally free of all suffering. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.baldwinbros.net or www.legacy,com . He was predeceased by his son, Mark, and grandson, Matthew. Survivors include his wife, Elaine; daughters, Laurie Brandt, Susan Perkins, Julie Kitchen; daughter-in-law, Shirley Sinclair Matrigali; 12 grand children; and eight great- grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to National Parkinson Foundation, Office of De velopment, 1501 NW 9th Avenue/Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL, 33136-1494, www.parkinso n.org; or Hospice of Volusia/ Flagler, 2800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL, 32129, www.halifax.org/hovf/ donations.html.