Albert D. Battista

Albert D. Battista, of Charlton, formerly of Sturbridge, died Friday, July 15, 2022. He was 88.

Albert was born in Worcester on May 24, 1934, son of the late Thomas and Rosaria (Zollo) Battista. He was a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute where he earned his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering in 1956 and his Master of Business Administration degree in 1970.

He was commissioned in the Army Signal Corps as a second Lieutenant in June 1956, and then joined Raytheon Technologies in 1958. On November 29, 1958 he married Anna T. Latino and began a long and happy life with her. In 1969 Al joined American Optical as a member of the research division, where he developed patents for lasers, laser power supplies, and laser ranging systems. While at American Optical he was the anchor for his candlepin bowling team and won a number of table tennis trophies while playing in local tournaments. In 1971, he purchased the existing laser business from American Optical and co-founded Laser, Inc. in Sturbridge, MA. After developing the commercial laser business with several large industrial customers, he sold Laser, Inc to Coherent Radiation and formed the joint venture Coherent General. He retired in 1994 and served on the board of directors for Southbridge Savings Bank as well as a member of the Sturbridge Finance Committee and the Harrington Hospital Finance Committee.

Al and Anna were passionate about traveling and enjoyed planning trips that they shared with family and friends. Al was an avid reader and did extensive research to plan trips to Italy. He taught himself Italian so that he could better understand and converse with the regional Italians. Some of the highlights of their travels were visiting local craftsmen and vacationing in Italian villas throughout the countryside. Wherever Al and Anna traveled they collected keepsakes and remembrances from their journeys.

Al had a love of the outdoors and enjoyed visiting gardens, beaches, and nature preserves. He was an accomplished gardener and continued to tend his vegetable and flower gardens through his time at the Overlook Retirement Community. Al was a member of the Overlook “Brew Crew” and loved to have his family and friends sample his latest brews. He enjoyed ship model building and built the Flying Cloud clipper ship from the original plans.

Albert leaves his daughter, Diane T. Lockwood and husband David of Norwalk, CT and son David J. Battista and wife Katherine of Columbia, MD, and a granddaughter, Valerie Battista.

Family, friends, and others whose lives Albert touched are invited to MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19. Services will be held on Wednesday, July 20^th at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Our Lady of Loreto Parish, 33 Massasoit Rd, Worcester, where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Please go directly to church.  Burial will follow in Saint John's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest that a donation in Albert’s honor be made to the American Cancer Society P.O. Box 22478 Oklahoma City, OK 73123. To make an online donation please visit www.donate.cancer.org To share your thoughts and memories of Albert, please sign his personal guestbook at: www.mercadantefuneral.com.