Alfred Robertson

Alfred Charles "Al" Robertson, 74, of Cape Girardeau passed away Wednesday, March 3, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

He was born June 11, 1935, in Los Angeles, to Alfred Sebron and Irene Albertine Robinson Robertson. He and Mary Ann Rheinecker were married July 4, 1958, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Belleville, Ill.

He graduated from Nordhoff High School in Ojai, Calif., in 1953. He entered the U.S. Air Force, attending basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, Radio Operators School at Keesler AFB, Miss., and Cryptographic Operations School at Scott AFB, Ill. He spent 18 months with the Security Service at Elmendorf AFB and King Salmon AFB, Alaska. He became an instructor at the crypto school at Scott AFB, and moved with the school to Lackland AFB where he spent the remainder of his service.

Alfred returned to school at Bakersfield College, California; Belleville Junior College, Illinois; and Illinois State University, where he obtained his bachelor and master degrees. He became an instructor at Southeast Missouri State University in 1962. Later, he completed his doctorate at Oklahoma State University.

He served on numerous committees at the college and university levels, including chair of the faculty senate during the 1989-1990 academic year. He also served as president of the Missouri Council for Geographic Education (1963-1964), was elected secretary (1983-1986), treasurer (1986-1989) and president of the Missouri Academy of Science (1992-1993). He was elected fellow of the organization in 1990.

Robertson also gave climatological presentations at local, state, regional and national levels. He published several articles on the local climate and compiled two booklets, one illustrated, on weather records for Cape Girardeau. He presented climatic and weather-related data to the local media for many years before retiring in 1998.

He recently became a member of the Sons of the American Revolution due to genealogical findings that his great-great-great-grandfather was a member of the Revolutionary War forces in South Carolina. He served as president of St. Vincent de Paul Home and School Association and was on the parish council for a year. He was a member of the Men's Club of the parish and of the Executive Committee of Cape Girardeau.

Alfred is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; two daughters, Alana (Marc) Moehlman of Cincinnati, Ohio, Beth Ann (Chad) Potokar of Pueblo, Colo.; three grandchildren, Lauren and David Litchliter and Olivia Potokar of Colorado.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Larry Gene Robertson of Bakersfield.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel, with parish prayers at 7.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Old St. Vincent's Church in downtown Cape Girardeau, with the Rev. Tom Kiefer officiating. Burial will be in Green Mount Catholic Cemetery in Belleville at 3 p.m. Monday.

Memorial contributions may be made to Old St. Vincent's Church Fund, St. Mary's Building On Faith or to the donor's choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.