Obituary of Dr. Brian Bertram Tormey

Dr. Brian Bertram Tormey, 82, of McAlevy's Fort, died August 16, at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Born October 8, 1940, in Staten Island, NY, he was the son of the late, Bertam M. and Margaret J. (Mildrum) Tormey.

He is survived by his brother Randall E. Tormey of Orchard Park, NY; three sisters, Margaret J. (Tormey) Walton and her husband W. Scott Walton of Gainesville, VA, Laurel A. (Tormey) Cole of Altamont, NY, and Virginia S. Tormey of Katonah, NY; two children, Blair R. Tormey and his wife M. Nicole Almeida of Waynesville, NC, and Megan A. Tormey and her husband John N. Whitaker of Alexandria, VA; two grandchildren, Liam B. Tormey and Brett S. Whitaker, and one step-grandchild Diana E. Almeida. He was preceded in death by his wife, Judith E. (Anderson) Tormey, on August 6, 2022, daughter Dr. Jennifer E. Tormey on December 12, 2022, and son Brett B. Tormey, on June 26, 1992.

Brian graduated from Somers High School, in Somers, New York in 1958, and went on to study agricultural chemistry at SUNY Morrisville and science education at Western Connecticut University, where he met Judy, a fellow science education student from Stamford, CT. He graduated from Western Connecticut in 1964.

On August 15, 1964, he married Judy and they moved to East Riverdale, MD. There, Brian worked towards a Master's in Science Education at the University of Maryland, while Judy taught at William Wirt Middle School as the science department head. In 1966, they moved to State College, where Brian continued doctoral studies at Penn State, and Judy taught in the science department at Westerly Parkway Junior High.

Brian taught Earth Science at State College Senior High from 1968 to 1981, while simultaneously working toward the completion of a Doctorate in Earth Science Education from Penn State in 1980. In 1981, he began his career as an earth and environmental sciences professor at the Altoona Campus of Penn State where he taught meteorology, geology, and geography, and served as the Chair of the Environmental Studies program and the campus representative for the University Faculty Senate.

In 1999, Judy and Brian moved to Stoneview, a 100-acre crop farm in McAlevy's Fort, and were co-owners of Hostetler Airport. In 2008, Brian retired from Penn State after 27 years of service, and began his next chapter, taking pilot lessons and raising top-winning show Kerry Blue Terriers on the farm.

Brian was a lifelong scouter. In 1956, he became the first Eagle Scout in Troop 1 (Somers, NY), and subsequently attended the 1957 National Scout Jamboree in Valley Forge, PA. As an adult, he served as Cubmaster of Pack 44 and Committee Chairman of Troop 44 in Pine Grove Mills, PA, where his sons earned their Eagle ranks in 1989. He remained active in local scouting up to his death, supporting numerous programs of the Juniata Valley Council and Seven Mountains Scout Camp through the Brett B. Tormey Foundation established in his son's memory.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 am Friday September 1, 2023, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 820 Westerly Parkway, State College, PA, with Father George Jakopac officiating. A burial service will follow at Graysville Cemetery in Spruce Creek.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Juniata Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America, 9 Taylor Drive, Reedsville, PA 17084.

Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.