James Engleman, member of N.J. glassblowing quartet
Sometimes, a truck can take you to places you never expected to go. In the early 1990s, a group known as the Wheaton Arts Glassblowers needed someone to haul its portable furnace to an event where the members could shape and sell their art.
Sometimes, a truck can take you to places you never expected to go.
In the early 1990s, a group known as the Wheaton Arts Glassblowers needed someone to haul its portable furnace to an event where the members could shape and sell their art.
James D. Engleman knew one of the glassblowers. Mr. Engleman had a pickup. And soon, he had a second career, as one of the four-man group.
Since then, as a glassblower for the Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center in Millville, N.J., Mr. Engleman had accumulated 12,200 volunteer hours, Marie Stubbins, a record-keeper for the center, said.
On Tuesday, Sept. 1, Mr. Engleman, 56, of Franklinville, who retired in 2011 as a wood shop teacher at the intermediate school of the Glassboro school system, died of cancer at Cooper University Hospital in Camden.
Born in Camden, Mr. Engleman graduated from Pennsauken High School in 1977 and earned a bachelor's degree in industrial arts at what is now Rowan University in 1984.
Beginning in 1986, Mr. Engleman had a 25-year career at the Glassboro school, said a brother, John Engleman, owner of the Lewis Funeral Home in Moorestown.
But it was his work at Wheaton that allowed him to leave a legacy.
"He just finished making pieces for all his grandkids," John Engleman said. "Each one has a signed piece from him."
The glassblowers' group traces itself to 1984, when Stubbins' husband, Frank, a Verizon lineman, and Jeff Vanaman, a teacher at Glassboro Intermediate, went to Wheaton to learn how to twirl white-hot glass into pitchers and bowls and such.
"In 1986," Marie Stubbins said, "Atlantic Community College called to ask if there was anybody who could do glassblowing," as an exhibition.
"We got this boat trailer and mounted a furnace on it," she said, and off they went. "When we started, Wheaton pulled it with a little van."
But when invitations came from farther afield, something sturdier was needed up front.
Vanaman talked to his Glassboro colleague. Mr. Engleman began to study the art. And a volunteer career was off.
Soon, he became part of a glassblowing quartet with Stubbins, Vanaman, and Harry Deemer, a professional glassblower whose day job was making test tubes and such for a firm in Vineland.
When Deemer died in 2009, his place was taken by the Stubbins' son, Wes, a Verizon technician.
"Now we have 12 shows a year," said Marie Stubbins, who does the bookings, among them the Kutztown Folk Festival in July.
At such events, she said, the men show how they make their art, sell the results, and spread the word abut Wheaton.
In 2012, John Engleman said, his brother made a glass bowl for the governor-general of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.
Besides his brother, Mr. Engleman is survived by parents Harry E. and Jane; wife Marge; son David; daughters Meg McHugh and Jamie; two other brothers; a sister; and two grandchildren.
A visitation was set from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at the Lewis Funeral Home, 78 E. Main St., Moorestown, with a funeral service there at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5. Interment is to be private.
Donations may be sent to www.wheatonarts.org.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.lewisfuneralhomemoorestown.com.
610-313-8134@WNaedele