Obituary of Stewart K. Kurtz

Stewart Kendall Kurtz, age 89, of State College, PA and Kill Devil Hills, NC, died Saturday February 13th with family by his side at Spring Arbor assisted living facility in Kill Devil Hills, NC.

Born June 9, 1931 in Philadelphia, he was the son of Stuart Kurtz and Ellen Kurtz. On July 1, 1951, Stewart married Dora Grandinetti at Great Lakes Naval Station in Waukegan, Illinois.

Stewart is survived by his brother William; his four sons, Phillip, David, Timothy and John; four grandchildren, Nicholas, Joseph, Sara and Hannah; and two great grandsons, Ryder and Parker. Stewart was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 64 years, Dora, and his brother, Edward Kurtz.

Stewart graduated from Merion High School, Philadelphia in 1948. He completed 4 years of enlisted Naval service as a carrier radio operator from 1951 to 1955, and completed his bachelors degree, masters degree and PhD in Physics, all from Ohio State University between 1955 and 1960.

He worked on the research staff at Bell Telephone Laboratories from 1960 to 1969, as Director of Exploratory Research at Philips Laboratories from 1969 to 1978, as Vice President and Senior Scientist at Bristol Myers Clairol Appliance Division from 1978 to 1987, as Professor of Electrical Engineering at Penn State University from 1987 to 2002, including the position of Director of Materials Research Laboratory from 1989 to 1991, as Vice Chair and Executive Administrator of the Materials Research Institute from 1992 to 1997, and as professor emeritus of Electrical Engineering from 2002 onward.

"Stu" as he was often called, had a great love of the outdoors, and an unrivaled thirst for learning "all things scientific". There was virtually no subject that he wasn't interested in. He was very dedicated to his wife Dora, as well as his four sons.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at The Penn Stater, 215 Innovation Blvd., State College, from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.

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.