Obituary of Nicholas Pelick

Nicholas Pelick, 85, of Zion, entered Heaven's Gates on Saturday, April 7, surrounded by his loving daughter, Daria; son-in-law, Rudy; grandson, Nicholas; and dear friends, KC, Beth, and Buck. He was born in Scranton on January 6, 1933 to the late John and Helen (Praska) Pelick. He was preceded in death in 2017 by his wife of 63 years, Gelsa "Dolly"; brother, John Pelick; and sister, Olga Tomacick. Nick is survived by two daughters, Daria L. Pelick (PSU AG 1980) and her husband, Robert H. "Rudy" Rudloff, of Zion and Pamela Roy of Purcelville, VA; two grandchildren, Nicholas Pelick-Rudloff (PSU SRA 2014) and Rebecca Roy; two sisters, Ann Smorey and Marion Figula; and brother, George Pelick. Nick attended Penn State Hazelton for two years and joined the ROTC program. He left school to serve his country in the US Air Force. In 1960, he completed his BS in Agriculture and Biological Chemistry at Penn State Main Campus. In 1964, Nick earned his MS in Biochemistry at Penn State. In 1966, he partnered with Walter Supina to form Supelco in Bellefonte, PA. Supelco developed and produced analytical products for gas chromatography and lipid biochemicals for medical research and standardization. The company grew to include overseas facilities and employed over 500 people worldwide. In 1986, Supelco was sold to Rohm & Haas Company of Philadelphia. Nick and Dolly took great pride in their longstanding involvement with Penn State and the Eberly College of Science; their endowments and scholarships in the college, and the Nicholas & Gelsa Family Chair. Nick served as an emeritus director of the Penn State Research Foundation Board; as a presidential counselor, advising the University on philanthropic issues; as chair of the college's component of Grand Destiny campaign; and as President of the College's Alumni Society Board. The Pelick's were Bryce Jordan Center Founders Club contributors, supported Pennsylvania Center Stage, WPSU, and Intercollegiate Athletics. Nick earned numerous awards and positions of distinction: the A Richard Baldwin Distinguished Service Award Alumni Fellow award in 1988; Alumni Fellow Award in 1991; Nick served as President of The American Oil Chemists' Society; and as President and CEO of Supelco; and Honorary Life Time Member of the Bellefonte Chamber of Commerce, President and lifelong member of the Bellefonte Kiwanis. Nick was the founder of Queen's Three Quarter horse Farm in Zion and owned the Nittany Valley True Value Hardware and Storage Center in Zion. Nick was the quintessential gentlemen, husband, father, grandfather and philanthropist and will be greatly missed by all who were blessed to be part of his remarkable journey. The Pelick's were members of St John the Evangelist-Roman Catholic Church, Bellefonte. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Penn State Eberly College of Science, through The Office of Annual Giving, 2583 Gateway Drive, Suite 200, State College, PA 16801, or St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church or School, 134 Bishop St, Bellefonte, PA 16823. A celebration of life will be announced later this summer at the family's convenience. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com