Alvin Spivak

Alvin "Al" Spivak (May 23, 1922, in Yonkers, New York, - June 5, 2004, in Santa Rosa, California) was the son of Herman (uncle of Lawrence E. Spivak, of Meet the Press Radio and Television) and Helen Klein Spivak. As a child, he developed a great fascination for mechanical devices, and grew to love steam locomotives, trolley cars, bicycles, and Scottish Bagpipes. He graduated from New York University with a B/A degree in mechanical engineering, and from Lesley College with a Master’s degree in applied management. Al initially worked as a supervisor for Third Avenue Railway in Yonkers, and then spent many years working for the General Electric Company (resulting in his development of a fluid amplifier with no moving parts) in a variety...