Search by Name

Search by Name

FUNERAL HOME

John F. Tierney Funeral Home

219 West Center Street

Manchester, Connecticut

William Diefenderfer Obituary

DIEFENDERFER, William E. William E. Diefenderfer, Glastonbury, died on Tuesday, (March 15, 2005) at Hartford Hospital. He is survived by his beloved wife, Francesca; daughter, Barbara Jean and son, William Robert, both of Seattle, WA; four granddaughters and four great-grandchildren. William is the son of William H. and Esther Miller Diefenderfer and was born in Tamaqua, PA. He graduated with honors from Tamaqua High School and attended The Pennsylvania State University, where he graduated in1938 as the top student in the Engineering College. He was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi social fraternity, where he served a term as president and received the Pi Kappa Phi scholar award. He was awarded memberships in all of the honor societies of the various disciplines of his curriculum including Pi Tau Sigma, Mechanical engineering, Tau Beta Pi College of Engineering and Phi Kappa Phi Overall University Scholarship. He played the clarinet in the famous Penn State Blue Band. Upon graduation, he accepted a full time teaching position on the Mechanical Engineering faculty while pursuing graduate studies. He designed and built a closed-return wind tunnel and six component measuring instrument which was the key element in starting the Aeronautical Engineering Department of the University. In 1941, he joined Hamilton Standard Division of United Aircraft as a mechanical vibrations engineer. He remained active in the affairs of the University, serving on the Board of Directors of The Naval Acoustical Laboratory, and was a charter member of the Industrial-Professional Advisory Council of the College of Engineering. He was the first recipient of the Outstanding Engineering Alumnus Award, was named Fellow of the University in 1994, made a member of the Mount Nittany society in 1966, and later a member of the Atherton and Laurel Societies. At Hamilton Standard, be became engineering Manager, and in 1961, General Manager, a title soon to become Division President. In 1967, he was made Group Vice President of the Corporation with responsibilities for Hamilton Standard, Sikorsky Aircraft, Norden Electronics, and the UTC Solid Rocket Booster Division in California. He retired as Senior Vice President of United Technologies In 1967. Both during his career and in retirement, he was active in community affairs serving on the Industry Advisory Committee for State Government under two Governors, on the board of Hartford Process, and on the Citizen's Committee for Effective Government for the City of Hartford. He was on the board of Southern New England Telephone Company for 18 years and Connecticut General Mutual Funds for 19 years. He and his wife, Francesca by endowments to the Pennsylvania State University established the William E. Diefenderfer Chaired Professorship in Mechanical Engineering and the Eva P. Diefenderfer Graduate Fellowship in Education, the latter in honor of his first wife, an educator and member of the Connecticut State Legislature at the time of her death in 1966. Further endowments establish the Francesca and William Diefenderfer Engineering Business Scholarships and Graduate Fellowships at Penn State, both during their careers and in retirement. William and Francesca were frequent and enthusiastic foreign travelers, their trips covering most of the Globe. Final Arrangements will be made by the John F. Tierney Funeral Home, 219 West Center Street, Manchester. Services will be limited to relatives at request of the family.

Published by Hartford Courant on Mar. 18, 2005.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Memories and Condolences
for William Diefenderfer

Not sure what to say?





1 Entry

Bill,

I have worked with and enjoyed knowing you and Fran for over 25 years. I will miss reviewing your many exquisite works of craft and art. You will be missed.

Your Friend,

Jim

Jim Fasi

March 18, 2005

Showing 1 - 1 of 1 results

Make a Donation
in William Diefenderfer's name

Memorial Events
for William Diefenderfer

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

Funeral services provided by:

John F. Tierney Funeral Home

219 West Center Street, Manchester, CT 06040

How to support William's loved ones
Commemorate a cherished Veteran with a special tribute of Taps at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor William Diefenderfer's life and legacy
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more