Joseph Basilesco

Joseph Basilesco of Wakefield a long-time resident and electrical engineer, died peacefully at Epoch Senior Healthcare of Melrose on Thursday, Dec. 16. He was 84.
Born in Malden on July 8, 1926, he was the son of the late Aquilino and Vallermina Basilesco .
He grew up in Everett where he attended public schools and graduated as the class valedictorian from Everett High School in 1944. Mr. Basilesco was accepted to attend Massachusetts Institute for Technology, but chose instead to enroll at Tufts University in Medford through its ROTC program. While earning his degree in electrical engineering in three years, he became a commissioned lieutenant in the Navy and was stationed at the U.S. Naval Station in Newport, R.I.
Mr. Basilesco worked as an electrical engineer for Chas. T. Main, Inc., in Boston for nearly 30 years before starting his own engineering consulting firm, Basilesco Consultants. While at Chas. T. Main, he played a key role in designing electrical distribution systems for numerous power plants in the United States and abroad, including the Niagara Falls hydroelectric power plant and plants in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Switzerland and Argentina. He also authored many articles in various technical publications, including The Standard Handbook for Electrical Engineers published by The McGraw Hill Companies.
Mr. Basilesco lived in Wakefield for 50 years. He enjoyed traveling throughout the world with his beloved wife, the late Winifred R. (Reid) Basilesco . He was also an avid shortwave radio operator, who built his first radio at the age of 10.
Mr. Basilesco was the father of three sons, John and his wife Anne of E. Hampstead, N.H., Robert of Merrimack, N.H., and Gary and his wife Susan of Lynnfield; two sisters, Marion Maher of Stoneham and the late Eva Silva of Everett; three grandchildren, Kara, Greg and Brian; and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at the First Parish Congregational Church, 1 Church St, Wakefield on Tuesday at 11am. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. There are no calling hours.

Arrangements are in the care of the McDonald Funeral Home, Wakefield

Read Joseph Basilesco's Obituary and Guestbook on www.mcdonaldfs.com.

Service

First Parish Congregational
1 Church Street
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 11:00 AM