Alina Surmacka Szczesniak

Szczesniak, Alina Surmacka

Alina Surmacka Szczesniak, a long-time resident of Mount Vernon, New York, died on Saturday, July 23, 2016, at her home. She was 91 years old. Alina was born on July 8, 1925 in Poland and emigrated to the United States following World War II. She earned a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Bryn Mawr College and a Sc.D. degree in Food Technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She spent her entire professional career as a Research Scientist with the General Foods Corporation (now Kraft Foods) in Tarrytown, NY, retiring in 1985 as a Principal Scientist. A pioneer and internationally recognized authority in the field of Food Texture, Alina was the holder of eleven U.S. patents. She also authored a large body of published work, much of which is still being cited by professionals in the field of Food Science. Alina was a Founding Editor of the Journal of Texture Studies, and served as its Co-Editor in Chief from 1970 to 1979. A long-time member of the Institute of Food Technologists, she was elected a Fellow in 1981. She is the only woman to be awarded the Institute's highest honor, The Nicholas Appert Award. Alina married Walter Szczesniak in 1949 in Forest Hills, NY. He preceded her in death in 1984. She is survived by her son, Andrew, daughter-in-law Kathleen and grandchildren, Michael and Lisa. Visitation will be held from 5 PM to 8 PM on Monday, August 1, 2016 at the Fred H. McGrath & Son Funeral Home, 20 Cedar Street, Bronxville, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at 10:00 AM at the Church of St. Casimir, 239 Nepperhan Avenue, Yonkers, NY, followed by a private interment in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Alina's memory can be made to either the Polish Institute of Arts & Sciences in America, 208 East 30th Street, New York, NY 10016 (www.piasa.org) or the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, 110 East 42nd Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10017 (www.alzinfo.org).