Albert B. DeMilo

Albert Byron DeMilo

February 17, 1936–May 10, 2021

Many people—mostly his family and New York friends—knew him as Byron. But in Maryland, everyone knew him as Al. We will use his family's preferred name in this obituary. 

Byron was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 17, 1936, to Elizabeth (Vecorkas) DeMilo and Albert DeMilo. In 1953, he graduated from New York’s Farmingdale High School, where he participated in two varsity sports: golf and wrestling. In 1957, he earned a bachelor of arts degree in Chemistry from Hofstra College in Hempstead, New York. And in April 1958, he married his wife, Barbara, whom he met in high school.

Byron served in the U.S. Army from August 12, 1957 to July 31, 1960. He was stationed in Hanau, Germany, at a newly formed mobile chemical lab for almost two years. During that time, he and Barbara explored Germany and traveled to nearby countries, including The Netherlands, Switzerland, France, and Italy.

After his discharge from the Army, Byron went to the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned a master of science degree in Organic Chemistry. He then began working at the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, where he remained for 34 years as a Research Chemist in the Insect Reproduction and Chemical Ecology laboratories. During that time, he published more than 85 articles in scientific journals. In 1996, he was awarded the Technology Transfer Award "for technology transfer of novel repellent compounds to the Department of Defense and private industry". He also taught an evening chemistry lab at the University of Maryland for a number of years.

Approximately 10 years before retiring in early 1998, he became interested in lapidary: the cutting and polishing of stones. He also began collecting rocks and minerals. He and Barbara joined the Gem, Lapidary, and Mineral Society of Washington, D.C., where he served as President, 3rd Vice President for Programs, and Director. He especially enjoyed teaching the cabochon-making course at the Eastern Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies workshop at the Wildacres Retreat in Little Switzerland, North Carolina.

Byron was a resident of Bowie, Maryland, for almost 54 years. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara; son, Karl; daughter, Kristine; granddaughter, Karly; brother, Brad (Ingrid Heim); sister-in-law, Dorothy Preves; and much-loved and cherished nieces and nephews.

Along his life's journey, Byron enjoyed the company and friendship of so many wonderful people, including his extended family; neighbors; coworkers; and fellow gem, lapidary, and mineral enthusiasts. He was generous, warm, funny, and supportive, and he will be deeply missed!