Collin Alexander

Collin H Alexander, age 97, of Boutwell's Landing in Oak Park Heights, died peacefully with friends March 25, 2014. He was preceded in death by his first wife Mary Beth and survived by wife Suzanne, sons Graham, Jon and Robert, daughters, Carol, Nancy, Kate and Alice, stepson Doug, stepdaughter Barb and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was a loving father and friend to all.
Born in Michigan, Collin spent his earliest years in India north of Calcutta. Following World War I the Alexanders moved to Michigan where his father served as a minister. Collin graduated from Alma College in Michigan in 1937, and completed a graduate degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning funds to pay for his graduate education by singing in a local church in Boston. His service as an engineer with 3M Company from 1951 to 1969 followed prior employment during World War II with Bausch & Lomb where Collin developed glare-free coatings for rangefinders and other military uses. He later founded and was president of Technical Enterprises, a consulting company specializing in thin film coatings, and was a co founder of the American Vacuum Society.
Collin was active for many years with the fellowship at North Como Presbyterian Church in Roseville, and enjoyed golf, tennis, bridge and singing. Family gatherings at the Alexander household often included games and members still smile at Collin's antics to describe "fairy" or "under" while playing charades. The family often caroled through the neighborhood at Christmas to share their joy and fellowship.
Memorials are requested to: Alma College (Michigan), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, North Como Presbyterian Church, or the Boutwell's Landing Benevolent Fund.