Obituary of Alan D. Kattelle

Alan D. Kattelle of Hudson, MA. died on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at the age of 91. Born in 1919 in Boston, he attended Columbia University where he graduated in 1948. Alan was working as a machinist in Hudson when World War II was declared; he later enlisted in the U. S. Army and served as an interpreter with the Allied occupation forces in France and Germany. Mr. Kattelle had a successful career as an engineer and business executive. Before his retirement from the Kennecott Copper Co. in 1979, he purchased heavy equipment for among other mines, the Bingham Canyon copper mine in Utah, the world�s largest man-made excavation. For 30 years, he and his family resided in Darien, CT. Besides being an accomplished sculptor and author, Mr. Kattelle established himself over 25 years of collecting, writing, and lecturing as one of the world�s foremost authorities on amateur cinematography. His articles have appeared in numerous collectors� society journals, as well as the Journal of Film and Video, Film History, and the newsletter of the Association of Moving Image Archivists, where he received the Silver Light Award in 2005 given in recognition of his long standing contributions and leadership in the field of amateur film. He was a charter member and past president of the Photographic Historical Society of New England, co-founder and past president of the Movie Machine Society and served on the advisory board of Northeast Historic Film. At one time he had one of the largest private collections of amateur film equipment and literature in the world which he has since donated to Northeast Historic Film, Bucksport, ME. He also authored and published the definitive book on the subject: Home Movies, A History of the American Industry 1897-1979. Mr. Kattelle was a 3rd generation resident of Lake Boon, and the lake�s resident historian. He served on The Lake Boon Commission, and was a member of both the Hudson and Stow Historical Societies, among numerous other local volunteer activities. He was a frequent visitor of Monhegan Island, ME. where in 1937 he met his wife, Natalie Orne Kattelle. Mr. Kattelle was predeceased by his parents, who were long time residents of Hudson, Mr. & Mrs. Laurence Kattelle. He was also predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Natalie Orne Kattelle, and a daughter Ellen K. Montecalvo. Mr. Kattelle is survived by 3 children: his son Laurence E. Kattelle of Gardner, MA., his daughter Candace K. Monroe of Los Angeles, CA. and another daughter, Prudence K. Burkhart of Darien, CT. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren. At the request of Mr. Kattelle there will be a private, family memorial service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be sent to: Monhegan Island Sustainable Community Assoc. (checks written to MISCA) P.O. Box 303 Monhegan, ME 04852 OR Northeast Historic Film (for the Alan & Natalie Kattelle Collection) P.O. Box 900 85 Main Street Bucksport, ME 04416 Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820