Alexander Robertson Service Information

Alexander "Sandy" Robertson, of Princeton, NJ died peacefully on Sunday, March 8. 2020.  He was 96.

Born in Sunnyside Queens, NY he was the son of Alexander and Margarite Belrichard Robertson and brother of the late Marion Gunning and Armande Crosbie.

In 1953 he married the love of his life and partner of 66 years Gladys Natali.  Their three sons, Alec, Jamie and Owen were their joy and challenge, which Sandy relished.  Alec and Mollie Cornell Robertson of Chalfont, PA, Jamie and Liz Robertson of Westfield, NJ and Owen and Cat Tatman Robertson of Denver, Co. Sandy was "Pop Pop" to Jessie Robertson McPoyle (Brendan) and Chandler, Jordan, Logan and Kendall Robertson, and great-granddaughter Vivienne "Vivi" McPoyle.

Sandy enlisted in the Navy in 1942 at age 19 and became an officer through the Navy’s accelerated officer training program, a so-called ’90-day wonder’.  He served on the U.S.S Notable and Refresh, mine sweepers primarily stationed in the Pacific.  While Sandy did not often speak of his time in the Navy, he displayed a reluctant satisfaction and pride when questioned by his sons and grandchildren and only recently admitted to taking shrapnel during a naval exercise.

Upon returning to Queens after the war he continued his education and graduated from Queens College in 1947 with a BA in Mathematics.  He then completed a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at NYU night school and joined the SOCONY Mobil corporation (later Exxon Mobil) initially working in their facilities division building service stations throughout the New York area.  He and Gladys lived in Jackson Heights, NY for several years and Sandy moved into Corporate Engineering at Mobil.  Soon after the birth of their first child they settled in Glen Cove, NY, buying an old carriage house that Gladys fell in love with, that then became the focus of Sandy’s weekends for the next ten years as he re-built and re-wired that house to Glady’s specifications.  In 1970 a transfer with Mobil brought them to Princeton NJ.  Sandy’s work with Mobil took him around the world on various engineering projects, designing and over-seeing construction of large structures from office buildings in Austria to natural gas terminals in Indonesia.  His basement office was always filled with blue prints of these amazing projects.

In Princeton, Springdale Golf Club became another focus and love where he was a member for 41 years.  Many new friendships were made in Princeton, but none were stronger than Sandy and Gladys’s life long bond with Maurice and Marylou McDonald of Morristown, NJ, who shared many family outings, holidays, travels, New Year’s and cocktails.

In addition to his loving wife he is survived by his three sons, Alec (Mollie Cornell Robertson) of Chalfont, PA, Jamie (Liz Lindholm Robertson) of Westfield, Owen (Cat Tatman) of Denver, five granddaughters; Jessie, Chandler, Jordan, Logan, and Kendall and great granddaughter Vivienne, and several nieces and nephews.

Services and interment will be private.

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