NATIONAL BOARD ANNOUNCES PASSING OF RETIRED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ALBERT JUSTIN
The National Board regrets to announce the April 16 passing of retired Executive Director Albert J. Justin. He was 88 years old.
Mr. Justin was elected executive director of The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors on March 12, 1993, following the death of then-executive director Don “Mac” McDonald in 1992. Retiring on March 31, 2001, he was the fifth executive director to head the internationally recognized safety organization since its formation in 1919.
A native of St. Stephen, Minnesota, Mr. Justin began his career in the boiler and pressure vessel industry in 1950 as a boiler operator and assistant chief steam engineer at Deaconess Hospital in Minneapolis. He later joined the Continental Insurance Company where he was employed for 30 years, the last seven of which as manager of the loss control department.
In 1984, Mr. Justin joined the state of Minnesota as assistant chief inspector and was appointed chief inspector in 1986 – a position he held until his retirement in February 1993.
As a member of the National Board from 1986 to 1993, Mr. Justin served on numerous task groups. He was chairman of the board from 1989 to 1991 and received the National Board Safety Medal – the organization’s highest honor – in 2006.
During his tenure as executive director, the Minnesota native affected significant change at the National Board, including: construction of the new National Board Training and Conference Center; coordination of National Board’s entry into electronic communications, including the Internet and Electronic Data Transfer; development of new rules providing the industry with means to evaluate effects of rupture disk devices on pressure relief system capacity; adoption of new rules for commissioned inspectors; National Board acceptance of international codes of construction; revision of the National Board Commission Examination reflecting new education requirements; and administration of the first National Board Commission Exam outside of North America.
“The years under Mr. Justin’s leadership were among the most energized, if not challenging, periods in the National Board’s long and distinguished history,” explains National Board Executive Director David Douin. “And while his contributions to our organization are numerous, his efforts on behalf of our industry strengthened it to become the successful entity it is today.”
As a National Board commissioned inspector (number 3572), Mr. Justin was active as a member of the Minnesota Boiler Inspectors Association and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Additionally, he served on ASME's Main Committee, the Board of Nuclear Codes and Standards, and as vice chairman of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Accreditation Committee. He was also a member of the Canadian Standards Association, and an associate member of the American Boiler Manufacturers Association.
A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Mr. Justin attended the Humbolt School of Business. As National Board Executive Director, he served on the board of trustees for the Greater Columbus Safety Council.
A service will be held Monday, April 27 at 2pm at Washburn McReavy Edina with a visitation beginning at 1pm. Internment at Lakewood to follow. www.Washburn-McReavy.com (952.920.3996)
Sympathy wishes may be directed to Mr. Justin's son and daughter:
Dennis Justin
65 Highland Ave
Winchester, MA 01890
781.729.7068
Cindy Florek
1641 Wood Duck Lane
Excelsior, MN 55331
612.760.5736