Louis Joseph DEMER

DEMER, Louis Joseph peacefully entered eternal life at age 98, on Sunday February 4, 2018, surrounded by his family. He was born on July 11, 1919, to Maude Murray and Jacob Demer, in Honesdale, PA. He attended Notre Dame and graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering. After being drafted by the U.S. Navy in 1944, Lou taught Materials at Syracuse University, NY, and then earned his Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. There, Lou met the love of his life, Mary Jeanne Ochs and they married on September 11, 1954. They lived briefly in Minneapolis, MN, and Towson, MD. In 1959, they moved to Tucson, AZ, where Lou began his 37-year career as a Professor of Metallurgy (later Material Science and Engineering) at the U of A. Lou was a founding and prominent, active member of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic parish. His unwavering religious faith and convictions, which he shared with his wife Mary and exemplified for his children, guided every aspect of his life. Louis Demer was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years and is survived by sons, Joseph (Melissa), Daniel, Thomas (Melanie), William (Kim), Frank (Martha), David (Shirley), and Karl (Stacie); daughter, Jeanne; 22 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Frances Cabrini Church, 3201 E. Presidio Road, followed by a reception at the church hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Frances Cabrini Conference or Louis J. Demer Endowed Scholarship Fund, College of Engineering, U of A.