Alan C. Traub, retired optical physicist and long-time Framingham resident, died peacefully at home on August 14, 2010. He was 87.
He was born in 1923 in Hartford, Conn., son of Samuel and Sadie (Cohn) Traub. He served two years as an Army tank gunner in World War II with the 48th tank battalion in France, Germany and Austria. He spoke French, German and Italian and his gift for languages saved his life when a missile set off explosives and killed many of his company while he was in the wine cellar of a local shopkeeper whose broom he was sent to borrow.
He attended Trinity College in Hartford, receiving a bachelor's degree in physics in 1947. While studying at the University of Cincinnati, where he earned a PhD in physics in 1952, he met and married Lois Speckter. In 1956, on the day of their first daughter's birth, the couple moved to their Campanelli ranch home in Framingham where they spent the rest of their lives. She died in 2000.
Dr. Traub worked as chief research engineer at Fenwal until 1963, then at MITRE Corporation in Bedford, Mass. and as Advanced Development Manager at Vanzetti Systems, Inc. in Stoughton, Mass. until his retirement in 1989. His engineering work in various aspects of electro-optical technology was mentioned in 38 publications. He received four patents, including one for a three-dimensional display for air traffic control which used a vibrating membrane mirror. This was named the New York Times Patent of the Week in 1968.
He is survived by his three daughters; Lauren Traub Teton of Pound Ridge, N.Y., Karen Traub of Shutesbury, Mass., and Lynda Sterling of Framingham, Mass., sons-in-law Dana Teton, Frank Citino, and Paul Sterling and grandchildren Teryn and Dante Citino of Shutesbury.
His charming sense of humor, wit and sharp intelligence added a brightness to the lives of those around him, including his caregiver of eight years Ekiria Kajubi. As his life wound down, he was a favorite patient, cheerful and rarely complaining, joking with and winning the hearts of those who cared for him.
His hobbies included photography and darkroom work, gourmet cooking, listening to classical music, and vegetable and flower gardening. He wrote poems and greeting cards for special occasions for family and friends.