- Date Of Birth: March 15, 1930
- Date Of Death: March 31, 2009
- State: Connecticut
Arthur Smith Bielefield, 79, Durham (formerly of Middletown) passed away on Tuesday, March 31st at home after a long illness. He was the son of the late Frances (Smith) Bielefield and Herman E. Bielefield and was the grandson of the late former mayor and postmaster of Middletown, Frederick J. Bielefield. Born in Middletown, he was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School where he was active in student government and played varsity football, basketball and ran track. In 1947, he was both the indoor and outdoor state champion in the mile run. He was the recipient of the Gold Key award from the Hartford Courant for excellence in art work in 1947. He attended the University of Connecticut and Central Connecticut University. Art was a veteran of the U.S. Navy where he served as a hospital corpsman. He worked at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft for over 28 years in experimental engineering, retiring in 1987. Art and his family moved to Durham in 1960 and he soon became active in many Durham organizations including the local Boy Scout troop committee, the Durham Little League and Senior League as both a coach and umpire and coached recreational basketball for many years. He was a former member of the Durham Recreation Committee and was a former superintendent, director, judge, and honorary member of the Durham Fair Association.
