John F. Born, 90, executive at Atlantic City Electric

One summer in the 1960s, when he was in his 40s, John F. Born took his family on a vacation in New England.

"We came across a rail yard in Vermont, and he was struck by the mechanical beauty of the locomotives," his son Matthew recalled.

"He became kind of a rail fan, and a couple of times a year, he would go on short trips and photograph railroads all over the country."

Eventually, his son said, Mr. Born became a contributor to the Triumph series of books about the former Pennsylvania Railroad published by Barnard, Roberts & Co. That was just for fun after he retired, his son said.

On Monday, Feb. 16, Mr. Born, 90, of Absecon, who retired in 1986 as a vice president at Atlantic City Electric Co. after a 36-year career there, died at home.

Mr. Born graduated from Holy Spirit High School in Absecon in 1942 and served as a Navy aerial gunner and aviation radioman from 1943 to 1946, for a time on PBY Catalinas, amphibious patrol aircraft.

"Most of his time was in North Africa" after the defeat of the German army, his son said. "It was mostly patrol; he never saw any live action."

Mr. Born had already begun his career with Atlantic City Electric in 1950 by the time he earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering at Drexel University in 1952.

During his time with the utility, he was a field engineer, then district manager, and later general manager of electrical operations before serving as that division's vice president from 1976 to 1986.

Atlantic City Electric "had about 2,200 employees" during his time in office, his son said, and "almost 1,100 were in his division."

His son noted that "for many years, he was the chief negotiator for management" in talks with the utility's labor unions.

"He seemed good at whatever he chose to pursue," his son said. "Sensible and restrained. Intellectually curious. And brilliantly capable of sizing up any project."

For 10 years after he retired, his son said, Mr. Born was a volunteer for an Atlantic City nonprofit that restored books.

In addition to his son, Mr. Born is survived by two other sons, John and Thomas; a brother, Edward; six grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters. His wife, Frances, died in 2012, and his brother Raymond died in 2009.

A viewing was set for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church, 1409 Pacific Ave., Atlantic City, before a noon Funeral Mass, with interment in Holy Cross Cemetery, Mays Landing.

Donations may be sent to the charity of one's choice.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.parselsfuneralhome.com.