Albert G. Handschumacher; Aviation Industry Leader

Albert G. Handschumacher, aviation industry leader who was a friend of aeronautics pioneer Bill Lear and was president of Santa Monica-based Lear Siegler, has died. He was 80.

Handschumacher, also known for his philanthropic work with the City of Hope National Medical Center and other organizations, died Oct. 27 at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica.

Long associated with the companies of Bill Lear, known for the Lear Jet executive plane, Handschumacher served as president of Lear Inc., then Lear Siegler and then Aeronca for 15 years. In 1977, he was named chairman emeritus of Aeronca.

In addition to aerospace instruments, the Lear companies manufacture electronic equipment and heating and air-conditioning hardware.

Handschumacher’s career also included terms as a director of First Executive Corp., Golden West Financial Corp., Informatics and Compucorp.

Active in the community, Handschumacher served as vice chairman of the City of Hope Board of Trustees and earned the medical and research facility’s Man of the Year award in 1970.

He also headed the Los Angeles division of the American Heart Assn. and was a trustee of the National Asthma Assn.

Born in Philadelphia, Handschumacher graduated from the Drexel Institute of Technology and in 1971 received its Outstanding Alumnus Award. He served as a major in the Army Air Corps during World War II.

Survivors include children Buzz, David, Megan, Karen and Melissa, and eight grandchildren.