Roland Arthur - age 90 - Los Alamos Jalbert

Roland Arthur Jalbert, 90, a longtime resident of Los Alamos, passed away peacefully at home from a broken heart early Sunday morning, October 19th, 2014 following the death of his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth, who died October 9, 2014.\r\nHe is survived by their children and their spouses and grandchildren, Marc Jalbert, (Darby and Maddy) from Longmont Colorado; Louis and Dawn Jalbert (Elyse and Amanda) from Los Alamos; Marie-Louise Jalbert Hadden and Blaine Hadden from El Rito; and Christophe and Connie Jalbert (Connor) of Seattle, Washington.\r\nMr. Jalbert was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island in 1924. After graduating high school and a stint in the U.S. Army Signal Corp during World War II he attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After completing his grad work in physics, Mr. Jalbert studied to become a priest as a Jesuit Brother. He decided to quit when sitings of Sasquatch in the Pacific Northwest triggered his wanderlust and learned to fly private small aircraft to aid in the search. With pilot license in hand, he lost interest in the mythical beast and quickly fell in love with Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. First, he worked in Seattle as a physicist but later accepted a job in Fairbanks at the University of Alaska as an assistant professor in the Physics Department. During that time he also moonlighted fishing and hunting tours in the Fairbanks area using his bush pilot skills.\r\nWhile living in Fairbanks and visiting Vancouver, he met Elizabeth Anne Jalbert (1931-2014) during a church picnic. Their courtship lasted a year, marrying in 1957.\r\nMr. and Mrs. Jalbert put together a household and began to raise four children. In 1966, he accepted a position at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and the family settled together in Los Alamos (White Rock).\r\nHis love of nature, the environment and the local culture was boundless. He loved to hunt and fish. Later he gave up hunting to focus on fishing. He explored the many lakes and streams of northern NM with his children and attending mass at many local churches near wherever he camped. He was a devout Catholic Eucharistic Minister for the local elderly and handicapped as well as being a regular usher for the weekend mass.\r\nA Rosary will be recited on Thursday, October 23, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. for both Mr. and Mrs. Jalbert at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Alamos. A Memorial Mass will be held Friday, October 24, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.\r\nIn lieu of flowers, donations may be made in their name to Catholic Relief Services, 877-435-7277. The family of Roland Arthur Jalbert has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.

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