Allan M. Foote ’72

On Wednesday, December 23, 1992 friends and co-workers of Allan M. Foote were deeply saddened by his sudden death. Al was stricken with a fatal heart attack while performing the final tasks to return Mystic Station’s Unit #4 turbine to service.
Al was a Senior Mechanical Engineer in the Mechanical/Structural Design Division of the Production Engineering Department. He was a graduate of MMA, an employee for 13 years and was the Company’s acknowledged expert on steam turbines and large rotating machinery. After graduation from college Al spent 8 years with General Electric as a field engineer where he put to practical use the knowledge he had gained in college and on board ship working with marine/mechanical equipment.
Al’s skills were not one-dimensional. He had knowledge and expertise for all types of rotating equipment and heat exchangers as well.
With great pride in his machine knowledge and with a tremendous work ethic, Al led many turbine related capital projects and overhauls to a successful conclusion. One of which was the timely return to service of New Boston Unit #2 turbine in 1991 after cracking was found in the notch area of the turbine rotor. This resulted in major and innovative weld repair procedures which were directed by Al. This repair procedure was recently recognized in an article co-authored by Al in the December, 1992 issue of Power Magazine.
Known affectionately to many as Big Foot, Footsie and Son, Al was a unique individual who lived life to the fullest and always on his own terms. Behind the open collars, blue jeans, cowboy boots and hands-on approach to problems was a technical knowledge and design expertise not known to everyone.
For those who worked closely with Al over the years his loss represents much more than that of a dedicated worker. Al was a friendly, outgoing, direct and sincere person. We have lost a man who brought expertise, a lively spirit and smiles to all around him. He will surely be missed.