Oct. 11, 1916 - June 27, 2006

Max Abercrombie, 89, a longtime Fairfield resident, died on June 27, 2006.

Mr. Abercrombie was born Oct. 11, 1916 in Breckenridge, Colo. He was the third eldest of 10 children and spent his youth in Denver, Colo.

Max joined the army shortly before Dec. 7, 1941. He landed on Utah Beach in Normandy, France and battled all the way across Europe into Germany where he was awarded the Bronze Star for valor during the Battle of the Bulge.

After his discharge from the Army, Max settled in Castro Valley, Calif., where he married Ella Narcisi. In order to earn his teaching degree he attended San Jose State University on the G.I. Bill while working at various jobs and starting a family. He began teaching elementary grades.

Upon Ella's untimely death in 1956, Max relocated to Fairfield and began his 25 year teaching career, primarily at K.I. Jones and Amy Blanc schools.

Mr. Abercrombie is survived by Barbara, his wife of 39 years; daughters, Gay and Mary Elizabeth "Beth"; sons, Brent and Lee; step-sons, Christopher and Rudy; and step-daughter, Chandra.

Max has nine grandchildren, Aaron, Cynthia, Shannon, Justin, Gaylen, Maggie, Alexandra, April and Chelsea. He also has 10 great-grandchildren. Max is also survived by his youngest brother, Robert M. Abercrombie of Denver, Colo.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The lives that Max touched were not limited to his family alone. He was extremely proud when approached by adults, often with children and grandchildren at their side, in grocery stores or banks, or even on the street who said things like, "Hey, Mr. Abercrombie, remember me? You taught me in the fifth grade!"

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, July 7 at Bryan-Braker Funeral Home, 1850 West Texas St., Fairfield.

Published in TimesHeraldOnline on July 5, 2006

Section 15, which faces south; it is part of a vast field of uniform white marble markers standing in formation, as though standing guard over the fallen soldiers at their feet. This was taken on Memorial Day.

Eleven years after Max's death, his wife Barbara joined him here, and it can be seen that they now share the stone. Engraved at the top of this side are the Section and Site numbers noting where they were laid to rest.