Obituary of Anthony J. Orsino

Anthony J. Orsino passed away in the presence of his family on Sunday July 14, 2013. He was born on October 18, 1919 in Utica, New York a son of the late Joseph and Rosina Orsino. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years Lena, his son David M. Orsino of Grand Rapids, OH, his daughter Kathryn A. Orsino of Schenectady, NY, his granddaughter Michelle Orsino of Toledo, OH, his nephews Robert (Sandy) Orsino of Utica, NY and Richard (Barbara) Orsino of Webster, NY; his nieces Patricia (JJ) Miller of Alexandria, VA, Deloris (Anthony) Mastrino of Tampa, FL, Carol (Everett) Greenwood of Augusta, GA and Jackie (Robert) Cramer of Swannanoa, NC; also grand nephews, grand nieces and great grand nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers Guy, Nicholas, Patrick, his sisters Teresa and Helen and his grand nephew Patrick Orsino. Tony attended local schools in Utica and received his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He joined the General Electric Guided Missile Department in 1950 and was assigned to the Malta Test Station. His work involved design and development of rocket engine turbo-pump components for the US Army Hermes Project. The turbo-pumps were designed to supply pressurized liquid oxygen and JP4 to the rocket engine combustion chamber. The Army Hermes effort was phased out when Congress transferred guided missile development responsibility to the US Air Force. Tony was later called back to the Malta Test Station to work on the Air Force Vanguard Project. He retired from General Electric Gas Turbine Department in 1985. While in Gas Turbine he was Engineering Project Manager for the MS 9001B which was a joint development project between General Electric and Alsthom of Belfort, France. The MS 9001B is a 50 cycle gas turbine based on the 60 cycle MS 7001B gas turbine previously designed by GE. Subsequent models of the MS 9001B have been supplied to various world markets including Japan and China. Tony was a WWII veteran and proudly served with the US Army 1st Infantry Division in North Africa, Sicily, Normandy and Central Europe. He was a licensed Professional Engineer and received a Cordiner Award in 1963 for evaluation of nuclear pressure vessel material test procedures. He was a member of the GE Elfun Society and did volunteer work on the Society's Talking Book Program which reconditions tape players for the blind and visually handicapped. The talking book program is Federally funded and is under the aegis of the Library of Congress. He was a part time volunteer at the Schenectady County Public Library Main Branch and was a member of Friends of the Library. Tony was a communicant of St. Kateri Tekakawitha Parish on Rosa Rd. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian burial on Friday at 9 AM at St. Kateri Tekakawitha Parish, Rosa Rd. Calling hours will be Thursday evening from 4 PM to 7 PM at the Jones Funeral Home, 1503 Union St., (at McClellan St.), Schenectady. Burial will be in Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery, Niskayuna. Memorial contributions in Anthony's memory may be made to the Friends of the Schenectady County Library, PO Box , Schenectady, NY 12301..