Obituary of George Kern

George Kern, a retired project manager/engineer and long-time resident of Burlington, passed away after a short illness on Monday morning, October 28, 2013. He was 84 years old. George was born and raised in Lawrence, the son of the late Walter and Irene Benjamin Kern. Upon graduation from Lawrence High School in 1947, he enlisted in the Navy and served on the U.S.S. Vulcan during the Korean War, holding the rank of Electronics Technician First Class. He received a Commendation for Excellent Performance of Duty. After completing his Naval service, George matriculated to Northeastern University, where he earned degrees in Engineering and Business. In 1953, he married the former Phyllis Coppola, a registered nurse, from Lynn. They settled in Burlington in 1956, where they raised five children and became active in the community. George had a long and distinguished career in the aerospace industry. He started as a repair technician for electronic equipment and then progressed to a laboratory technician for MIT where he constructed and tested electronics for a missile project. He then moved to RCA where he became more involved in the design and testing of missile fire control systems, internal guidance systems, and optical systems. He also designed and tested space systems on the Apollo Spacecraft, including Apollo 11, which made its historic landing on the moon on July 20, 1969, George’s 40th birthday. His 17 years with RCA involved many top secret projects designing state of the art electronics and guidance systems used in aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. In 1974, George moved from RCA to Northrop Grumman Corporation, where he worked as a project manager for various missile guidance systems. One such project produced the first guidance system to be accurate within ten feet. George was active in various civic activities in Burlington, his home of 57 years, particularly those involving his children. He served as a coach in Little League and the Burlington Youth Hockey Association. In addition, he was a Troop leader and Treasurer for the Boy Scouts, Minuteman Council. He was also a longtime member of the Sons of Italy and Burlington Booster’s Club. Upon his retirement, he and Phyllis spent their winters in in Marco Island, FL, where he was active in Habitat for Humanity building homes for indigent families. He and Phyllis loved to travel and made several trips to Europe. They especially enjoyed their time with their grandchildren and great grandchildren. In addition to Phyllis, his wife of 60 years, George leaves his son Kevin Kern and his wife Cynthia of Littleton, daughter Kristin Kulig and her husband Douglas of Hopkinton, son Stephen Kern of Atlanta, GA, son David Kern & his wife Teresa of Methuen, and son Jeff Kern and his wife Abena of Brooklyn, NY. George was the brother of Marilyn Eftim of Ft. Meyers, FL, the late Walter and Russell Kern and brother-in-law of Joy Wise of Rockport, and Louis Eftim of Ft. Meyers. George was the proud grandfather of William, Richard, Gregory, Jacqueline, and Bradford Kern and Alana, Camille, and Graham Kulig and great grandfather of Ashley and Owen Kern. George was also survived by many nieces and nephews. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Thursday, October 31 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Malachy Church, 99 Bedford St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in George’s name may be made to Alzheimer's Association, 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472