Guerci, Harold B. Age: 96, Shrewsbury

661

Harold B. Guerci, 96, of Shrewsbury, died on August 31. Born and raised in New York City, he sang in the Metropolitan Opera Boy’s Chorus in his youth and graduated from Stuyvesant High School. During the Depression, he worked at Bell Telephone Laboratories in New York and began college at The Cooper Union at night. With World War II looming, he received a commission in the Army and following the Declaration of War, was activated for duty.

Harold married Eleanor Lloyd, discontinued his studies and served in the European theater. Following his return from Germany, he resumed his studies and began a family. Worcester Polytechnic Institute awarded him a degree, with high distinction, in electrical engineering, and was elected to Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi.

He then rejoined Bell Laboratories, where he spent his entire career. In 1962, following his transfer to Bell Laboratories’ new facility in Holmdel, he moved to Rumson, where Eleanor and Harold’s family, including their four children, blossomed. During much of this period until 1970, he served as a colonel in the Army Reserves. The Army awarded him The Legion of Merit for his service. Harold retired from Bell Labs in 1984. Following retirement, until 2008, Monmouth County was home in the summer while winters were spent in Tequesta, Fla. He moved to Shrewsbury in 2000.

Harold devoted his life to his family and shared his gleeful sense of humor with many. He applied high standards to whatever he undertook, including many home projects. A kinder, gentler soul there never was.

Harold was predeceased by his wife, Eleanor Lloyd Guerci, to whom he was married for 66 years. He leaves two sons and their wives, Lloyd Guerci and Joyce Rechtschaffen of Chevy Chase, Md., and Alan and Leslie Guerci of Sea Cliff, N.Y.; two daughters, Janet Henderson of Fair Haven and Anne Tyson and her husband George of Lakeland, Fla. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Katie McGovern, Lauren Finney, Christie Elder, Eleanor Tyson, Julia Tyson, Margaret Tyson, John Guerci and Eric Guerci; and his great-grandchildren, Ryan McGovern, Ellie McGovern, William Finney and Taylor Finney.

Funeral arrangements are private. Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank, is entrusted with the arrangements.