Richard
Ernest Tressler, June 14, 1942 - September
8, 2007
Richard Ernest Tressler, 65, of
Oak Hall, died Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007, surrounded
by family at the Mount Nittany Medical
Center. He died of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).
Born
on June 14, 1942, in Bellefonte, he was
a son of Ernestine and the late Earl Tressler,
of Bellefonte. He is survived by his wife, Janis
Jones, and three daughters and their families,
Laura Sweeny and her husband Robert, of
Indiana, Pennsylvania, and their children Owen
and Francie; Kristin Reagle and her husband
Daniel, of Media, and their daughter Megan; and
Jennifer Hendrickson and her husband
Michael, of State College, and their children
Ada and Sally.
He
is also survived by stepson David
Mochak and wife Natalie, and their son Devin;
two brothers, Hubert of Green Bay, Wis., and
Kermit of Bellefonte. He was preceded in death
by his late wife, Sue Alexander Tressler and
his brother Earl of Muncy.
He was a 1959 graduate of Bellefonte Area High School. He earned his B.S. degree
in Ceramic Technology from Penn State in 1963, his M.S. at MIT in 1964, and his
Ph.D. in Ceramic Science at Penn State in 1967. He was a decorated veteran, serving
as a Captain in the United States Air Force, then joined the Ceramics faculty
at Penn State in 1972. He served as Head of the Department of Materials Science
and Engineering for 10 years, was President of the American Ceramic Society,
and Founding Director of the Center for Advanced Materials at Penn State. He
also served on the technical advisory boards of Kyocera, Air Products, and Alcoa,
as well as the Board of Directors of AVX Corporation. In recognition of his accomplishments
he was named Academician of the World Academy of Ceramics, Honorary Member of
the Societe Francaise de Metallurgie et de Materiaux, the International Prize
of the Japan Fine Ceramics Association, and was named Distinguished Life Member
of the American Ceramic Society, and received the Hosler Alumni Scholar Award
of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. He retired as Professor Emeritus
of Materials Science and Engineering in 2001.
He made a significant contribution to the field of Materials Science by being
an outstanding mentor to his students. In addition to enjoying time on his farm
with his family and particularly his grandchildren, he was an avid hunter and
fly fisherman. He loved to garden, chop wood, and drive his tractor. His hobbies
included restoring old homes and antique automobiles. He was a lover of music
and played the flute and bass. He was a lifelong supporter of Penn State and
dedicated himself to philanthropic efforts on behalf of the University. He will
be remembered for his quick wit and sense of humor. He was a member of St. Paul's
United Methodist Church, a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association,
and a member of the Obelisk Society of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
at Penn State.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007, at the Koch
Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St. in State College. A funeral will be held at
11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 109
McAllister St., State College, with the Rev. Eric J. Shafer officiating. Burial
will be in the Boalsburg Cemetery.
The family encourages donations in his memory to:
The Richard E. Tressler Career Development Professorship in Materials Science
and Engineering The Pennsylvania State University
121 Steidle Building
University Park, PA 16802.
If you would like to send a card to the family, please send to the address below:
Janis Tressler
1040 Boalsburg Road
Boalsburg, PA 16827
