Robert A. Yannone

Robert A. Yannone, 96, of Lansdowne, a professional engineer, WWII Navy Seabee combat Veteran in the South Pacific, and loving husband, father and grandfather died July 28 after a courageous struggle with the COVID-19. After WW II, he entered the Naval Reserve and attended PMC (Widener University) while working at Westinghouse and starting his married life with is high school sweetheart, Marie. He graduated, with honors, with a BS in Electrical Engineering which allowed him to work on design of controls in the Gas Turbine Division. While working on turbine controls, he entered Drexel University to pursue an advanced degree. By this point, he and Marie had 2 children, Robert and Annette, and he was able to successfully graduate with a MS in Electrical Engineering. Professionally, he had many innovations and pioneered the development of the first automatic startup for gas turbines using computers to control the machines. He was granted 25 patents in the area of turbine control and protection on electrical generation systems in operation through the world, serving municipalities, isolated power systems, and large power grids. After 42 years, Robert retired from Westinghouse and then went on to form a consulting engineering company with his daughter, Annette, and a team of design engineers.

Robert traveled extensively during his engineering career but always put his family first and in most cases his family accompanied him in his worldwide travel. One of his most favorite places was Brigantine, NJ where he had a vacation summer home for many decades. This is where he taught his children and grandchildren the love of the ocean and instilled the importance of having family time together. He lived his entire life consistent with his values of faith, honesty, hard work, dependability, good humor, eating well, fitness, helping others and love.

He is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Marie Callahan Yannone; his son and daughter in law, Dr. Robert and Sharon Yannone; his daughter and son in law, Annette and John Carroll; two grandchildren, Chelsee and Ashlee; and his nieces and nephews. Services and burial will be private.

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