IN MEMORIAM

David Grzelak, retired chairman and CEO of Komatsu America Corporation who was closely connected to Penn State Behrend, died Monday, December 26, 2022. He was 73.

Grzelak began his academic career at Behrend, earning his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering at University Park in 1971. As a student at Behrend, he was a standout tennis player, recognized by his induction into Behrend’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992.

Grzelak was a recipient of the Outstanding Alumnus Award from Penn State and the Alumni Fellow Award, the highest recognition given by the Penn State Alumni Association. He served as a member and director of Behrend’s Council of Fellows.

When Grzelak retired from Komatsu America in 2013, he did so with the distinction of being the longestserving chairman and CEO in the company’s history.

Dr. Gary Lyons, retired Erie cardiovascular surgeon and longstanding friend of Penn State Behrend, died February 11, at 88.

Lyons began his college education at Penn State Behrend, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in pre-medicine from University Park in 1956. He subsequently earned his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh Medical School and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. In the early 1970s, he established the open-heart program at Erie’s Saint Vincent Health Center and served for many years as the hospital’s chief of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery.

Lyons was a recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Penn State and the Alumni Fellow Award, the highest honor given by the Penn State Alumni Association.

Dr. Bruce Wittmershaus, an associate professor emeritus of physics, died March 30 while traveling with his wife, Janice, in Cuba. He was 66.

Wittmershaus earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Franklin & Marshall College and a doctorate from the University of Rochester. He joined Behrend in 1995 and was a cornerstone of the physics program, helping guide its development through the years.

In the classroom, Wittmershaus had a reputation for patience, fairness, and kindness. He was also an accomplished researcher. Among his faculty colleagues, Wittmershaus was well respected, serving as a mentor and role model, according to Dr. Marty Kociolek, director of the School of Science. His positive attitude and pleasant demeanor were inspiring to the Behrend community.

Jon Meckley, associate professor emeritus of engineering in plastics engineering technology, died at his home on April 1. He was 63.

Meckley had a long history with Behrend, first as a student and then as a faculty member, before retiring in 2022. He earned both an associate degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology and bachelor’s degrees in MET and PLET from Behrend, before earning a master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts.

For more than two decades, Meckley organized and led international trips for PLET majors to many countries. He was hardworking but also fun-loving. As much as he enjoyed a good practical joke, he was serious about student success, leaving an indelible mark on scores of PLET students he helped guide to success.