Bassett Family Association Database

Maxwell Bernard Bassett

Male 1914 - 2005  (90 years)


Personal Information    |    PDF

  • Name Maxwell Bernard Bassett 
    Born 7 Jul 1914  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    _UID 1F94C9899FDAC7459337E44217AE75570BF6 
    Died 4 Apr 2005  Stuart, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Boston Herald, Sunday, October 19, 1975
      Bassett-Kvaraceus

      Dr. Joan Patricia Kvaraceus, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Kvaraceus of North Falmouth, formerly of Brockton, exchanged marriage vows with Maxwell Bernard Bassett of New Canaan, Ct., in Greenwich, Ct.
      The bride graduated from Jackson College, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and Tuffs University Medical School. She is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. She completed her chief residency in general surgery at Boston City Hospital and was a member of the surgical staff of Lahey Clinic.
      Mr. Bassett, an alumnus of William Penn Charter Preparatory School and the University of Pennsylvania, is a consultant in the electronics industry.


      1920 Federal Census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (5 Jan 1920)
      Alexander Bassett - 45 - M - NJ-NJ-NJ - Head - Dealer ??? Offices
      Sarah - 43 - F - PA-PA-EN - Wife
      Maxwell - 5-5/12 - M - PA-NJ-PA - Son
      (Living in the 42nd ward)

      The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Saturday, July 1, 1933
      Maxwell Bassett of Philadelphia, not new to the model building fraternity, set the pace at the meet and walked away with three of the major honors. Maxwell won the choice Mulvihill (English) Trophy, the Texaco Trophy awarded in the gasoline engine powered contest, and the new International William A. Moffett Trophy. Maxwell, although only 18 years old, flew his squadron of planes in the various events to real victory and it is the first time in the history of the national meet that any one boy took three major honors.

      Greenwich Time, 13 Apr 2005
      Maxwell Bassett
      Maxwell Bassett, 90, and Aviation Pioneer of Stuart, FL, died Monday, April 4th in Stuart. He was born in Philadelphia, PA, and was a resident of Stuart for more than 20 years. In 1939 he graduated from the University of PA with a M.E. and did post graduate work in aeronautical engineering.
      Maxwell Bassett's work with model airplane design revolutionized the hobby from rubber band power to gas powered engines. Along with Bill Brown (who designed the first practical gas powered model airplane engine) Maxwell designed the planes that showed the world how to fly models with this type of power. In the 1930's he created a succession of tremendously successful designs that won many awards setting national records naming some planes after his hometown "Miss Philadelphia". He won several first and two world's records and is in the Model Aviation Hall of Fame.
      After he did post graduate work, he joined Martin Aircraft Co.. in Baltimore, MD as an aircraft designer. His early project at Martin included extensive design on the B26, the Mars flying boat, and other military aircraft during WWII. Near the end of the war in 1941, Glen L. Martin made Bassett head of the advanced design department to come up with a design for a projected post war airline transport which resulted in the Martin 202 in 1946, the last major aircraft ever designed by one person. With Martin he also designed the Martin 404, a precursor to the U2 spy plane, and the Titan missile. In 1961, he joined General Precision Electronics Corporation, leaving the company in 1970 and doing management consulting.
      Bassett was an avid worldwide sailor and racer and explored the island chain of the Caribbean numerous times.
      He is survived by his wife of 18 years Rosamond Berg Bassett of Stuart, FL; son Alexander Bruce Bassett of Danbury, CT; daughter Beverly Kimmel of Chappaqua, NY; three grandsons and sister Hannah Dwyer of Greenwich, CT.
      Arrangements are under the direction of Aycock Funeral Home, Stuart.
    Person ID I2386  4B William Bassett of Lynn, Massachusetts
    Last Modified 6 Jan 2016 

    Father Alexander Black Bassett,   b. 13 Jul 1874, Mannington, Salem County, New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother Sarah Mauder Kuen,   b. 8 Aug 1876, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married 15 Oct 1901 
    Family ID F723  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Bette 
    Married Jun 1941 
    Children 
    +1. Living
     2. Living
    Family ID F824  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Rosamond Berg,   d. Jan 2018 
    Married 6 Jun 1987  New Canaan, Fairfield County, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 6 Jan 2016 
    Family ID F826  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart