Obituary of Fred E. Werner

Fred Eugene Werner of Stamford, CT and a former longtime resident of Pittsburgh, PA, died peacefully on May 5, 2009, after a long battle with prostate cancer. Fred was born in Mansfield, OH on September 22, 1927. Following service in the Navy during World War II, he was educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from which he received his B.S. degree in 1950 and his Ph.D. in 1956, both in the field of metallurgy. Fred joined the Westinghouse Research & Development Laboratories in Pittsburgh, PA in 1955 and worked there until his retirement in 1988. He did research in materials related to the generation, transmission, and utilization of electricity. He held various management positions, including manager of both the Metallurgy and Magnetics departments. Fred was active in national technical societies, including American Society for Metals (ASM) International, The Materials Society (TMS), and the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE). He was elected a Fellow of ASM for his contributions to materials used in electric power. His IEEE activities included 20 years of participation in organizing and managing technical conferences, including many years as treasurer of both the International Magnetics (Intermag) and Magnetism and Magnetic Materials (MMM) conferences. In 1983, he was general chairman of the MMM conference held in Pittsburgh. He was active for more than 25 years in the Girl Scouts, serving on several committees, as well as being vice president of the Girl Scouts of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Other volunteer activities included many years on the Forest Hills Environmental Advisory Council, as well as a math and science tutor in the Pittsburgh City high schools. Fred's interests were many and varied, and he shared them all with his beloved wife, Ann. They enjoyed attending theater and musical performances, hiking, canoeing and backpacking, reading, and listening to classical music and jazz at home. They played bridge and began birding more than 40 years ago, keeping a Life List and tallies of birds seen and heard on their many travels. After Fred's retirement, they spent summers at their camp on Piseco Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. Fred loved good conversation and laughter, especially while sharing a meal with family and friends. Fred is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ann Werner of Stamford, CT, as well as by their three daughters and their spouses: Leslie and Kevin Lloyd of Darien, CT; Karen and Halford House of Chapel Hill, NC; and Susan Werner and Thomas Lyon Mills of Providence, RI. He is also survived by three grandchildren: Andrew and Brian Lloyd, and Melissa House. Also surviving Fred is a brother, William A. Werner of Ann Arbor, MI, and a sister, Mary W. Layton of Norwich, VT. He was predeceased by another sister, Jeannette W. Wynn. Fred is also survived by his AFS International daughter, Ana Maria Reinoso de Ponce of Arequipa, Peru, who lived with the family as an exchange student. The family would like to thank the staff at Brighton Gardens/Sunrise Assisted Living in Stamford and Vitas Hospice for the care they gave Fred during the last year of his life. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Pittsburgh, PA, with burial at Higgins Bay Cemetery of Piseco Lake. The family suggests contributions be made to Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania, 606 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Arrangement were handled by the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, Darien, CT. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820