Albert James Goellner

Obituary Al Geollner, 77, of Beaufort, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, Oct. 31, at Carteret Health Care in Morehead City. An informal celebration of Als life will be held at the Maritime Museum, Front Street, Beaufort, on Friday November 15, 2019 from 6:00 8:00pm. Memory sharing will be invited Al was born January 19, 1942, in Clifton Springs, NY, a son of the late Henry and Elizabeth Miller Goellner. He spent his early years in Port Gibson, NY, with his high school education completed in Newark, NY. Al retired from a long career as a graphic artist, continuing to share his gift of art with friends and/or business in the Beaufort community. He is survived by his loving, dedicated wife, Ann whom he married in 1963. The two of them together, with Anns educational career as a respected French teacher in Georgia, extended their caring outreach to form a group known as "Beaufort sister cities" reaching around the world with the 24 known Beaufort communities. They coordinated a successful and memorable gathering in Beaufort, NC with visitors from Beauforts, coordinating many local people to serve as host families to the visitors. Also, as an interested team, the Geollner supported and stimulated community interest in the Carteret County Community College with its culinary program. Al proudly served in the United States Army from 1954 through May of 1966 and placed him in the position of Visual Training Aid Specialist. His advanced education was earned through the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, with a bachelors degree in Fine Arts and a major in Advertising Design. This training background placed Al in advertising or graphic artistry from Detroit, MI to New York to Atlanta where he was an assistant creative director. He also produced weekly political cartoons for the GAM weekly newspaper. Als style of paintings included: Pen water colors; acrylics; oils often featuring a nautical theme. His free lance approach from 1986 through 1996 extended into graphic design and illustration. Al participated in many local clubs and associations such as Hands-on Model Boat Building at the NC Maritime Museum, Beaufort, NC, volunteering at the Beaufort Maritime Museum and Watercraft Center, volunteering with the Beaufort Historic Association, participation in the Annual John Costlow model train show for many years, a juried member in the Carteret County Arts Coalition, volunteering and participation in Beauforts BHA Mattie King Davis Art Gallery, and he was featured as the Millennium Artist for the NC Seafood Festival, 2000. Al was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Thomas and Henry Geollner. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Al to be made to the Friends of the NC Maritime Museum at 601-C Cedar Street Beaufort, NC 28516. Services Celebration of Life Friday November 15, 2019 6:00 PM NC Maritime Museum 315 Front St. Beaufort, NC 28516