Obituary of William Park

William Harold "Bill" Park, 82, of State College died September 9, 2011. He was born March 2nd, 1929 in Carlisle, son of the late Harold and Ruth Park. Bill attended Carlisle public schools, graduating in 1947. In June of 1952 he received his B.S. degree from The Pennsylvania State University. After a year in industry with Sanders And Thomas, Inc. of Pottstown, he joined the Mechanical Engineering Department at Penn State and began work on an M.S. which he received in 1959. He received his Ph.D. from Cornell University in 1966. He has been married to Ruth Dorsey Park for 57 years and they have 4 children. As an educator at Penn State he challenged his many students to perform to the high University standards. While on sabbatical for one year, he helped install Ford Motor Company's first hybrid computer. He was a "gadget" man and a problem solver. He was on the team of researchers from the colleges of engineering and medicine that developed the heart-assisted pump in 1976. It was the first surgically implantable, seam-free pulsatile blood pump to receive wide-spread use. He officially retired in 1987 but continued to challenge his mind by sharing his mechanical engineering knowledge as an expert witness for the industry. With is resonant bass voice, he was active in choirs his entire life that included: Penn State Choirs, Glee Club, the Hi's and Lo's, and the Chapel Choir. He continued his singing at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. He started the entire family on the first of many life-long adventures in 1965 when he bought a "how to" book and bought a boat and then, taught the family to sail. In 1972 he started Centre Marine, a small boat sailor's store serving the local community. He learned by example and lead by example. His work ethic and unbiased nature came from his grandfather who had eight children and only enough money to send 4 to college. His grandfather sent his daughters to college and told his sons they could make it on their own. He joined the Forest Stewardship program in 1988 and has been an active forester who now leaves a 4th generation legacy tree farm and homestead to the 5th generation of the Park Family. Community was so important to him. He served and lead on many Boards, and has been a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church for over 50 years. He was President of the Board during the church reconstruction 1988. An avid sailor and windsurfer into his 70's, Bill was Commodore of the Lake Glendale Sailing Club from 1976-77. He was a father and husband more interested in his children and wife's happiness than anything else. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Dorsey Park; sons Steve and Jim; daughters Mary and Carol; grandchildren Andrew, Katherine, Evan, Gregory, and Christopher; and great grand children Trenton, Dylan, and Jonathan. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept 16th, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 109 McAllister, State College. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to: The Park Endowment Fund for St. Paul's United Methodist Church, or The Forestry Stewardship Endowment Fund c/o Penn State University, One Old Main, University Park, PA 16802.