Obituary of John S Auld

Auld, John S., age 90 of Saddle River, NJ died Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at Brighton Gardens, Saddle River. He was born in 1926 in New York, NY, the son of Henry and Blanche (Peabody) Auld and resided in Saddle River, NJ for over 30 years. John graduated from the U.S. Maritime Cadet Academy and went on to serve his country in World War II with the Merchant Marines. John also served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. While with the U.S. Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories, he headed the development of the Army’s first mobile television system. Three years later he headed technical operations for the first National Football Games to be telecast over network TV and went on to televise various Yankee games with this same system. As an engineer with the Dumont Television Network, John was responsible in 1956 for the introduction of the Electronicam system. Among well -known programs produced under his direction were the “Jackie Gleason Honeymooners”; and the “Les Paul-Mary Ford Show”. While with Dumont Laboratories he helped develop the first tank fire control system with night capability and the first Rotary Prism Panoramic Camera for Reconnaissance among others. An experienced executive in the areas of manufacturing, product development, operations and market- planning, Mr. Auld held various high managerial positons. He was most proud of his positon as CEO and President of North American Philips Broadcast Equipment Corp. The author of many articles for professional publications, Mr. Auld was a member of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers; The American Management Association and served on The Board of Trustees of the Pascack Valley Hospital Association and the Board of Directors of the Bergen County, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. John was a lifetime member of both the New York Athletic Club and White Beeches Golf and Country Club. He was a very active member of the Hawthorne Gospel Church where he served as an usher. He was predeceased by his 2nd wife, Carol Pistilli-Auld of Saddle River and his 3rd wife, Emily Batluck-Auld, also of Upper Saddle River. John is survived by his four loving daughters: Nancy Auld-Morogiello and her husband, Dan of Whitehouse Station, NJ; Lin Auld-Whalen and her husband, Jack, of Bernards Township, NJ; Terry D’Alessandro and her husband Nick, of Mahwah, NJ; and Janet Mobbs and her husband, Dan of Colts Neck, NJ. Also surviving are John’s 13 grandchildren, three great grandchildren and his cousin Rita Schumacher, who he loved dearly. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, January 8, 2017 from 1:00 – 3:30 PM at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, www.vpfh.com, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481. A Funeral Service will follow on Sunday at 3:30 pm at the funeral home. A private entombment will be held. As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, donations in John’s memory may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or Parkinson’s Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018.