Fred William Kunz

Fred William Kunz, age 82, died suddenly on January 15, 2009. Born July 17, 1926 in Asuncion, Paraguay, SA, Fred came to the U.S. with his parents, Leopold and Frieda Klingler Kunz; his brother, George, and sister, Mary, through the Immigration Center at Ellis Island in 1927. He became a citizen in 1934. He graduated from Sacred Heart School (1940) and Catholic Central High School (1944). Fred received his BS in Physics (1951) and a MS in Chemical Physics (1954) at Siena College. He was a member of the varsity soccer team, the Physics Club and elected into the Physics Honor Society in 1954. He also studied metallurgy at RPI in the graduate school. Fred was a World War II Navy veteran (1944 to 1946) as a machinist mate 3rd class aboard the destroyer escort R.W. Suesens DE-342, which was involved in the Philippines, Okinawa, Japanese campaigns, and the post war Korean occupation. He received the American Theater, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, Philippine Liberation, WWII Victory Medals and the Navy Unit Commendation and Navy Combat Action Ribbons. Fred retired from Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in 1988 after 37 years of service as a physical metallurgist. He was internationally recognized for his pioneering work on neutron irradiation and fission effects in metals as well as the development of Columbium and Zirconium based alloys for use in nuclear fuels. He was the holder of several patents, and author of more than 30 technical papers and reports on a variety of metallurgical subjects. He was also co-editor of the book "Columbium Metallurgy" in 1960. Fred was a life member of the American Society for Metals International, a senior member of the American Institute of Mining Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers. He was a founding member of the KAPL Retirement Club and a member of the GE Elfun Society. Fred was former director, membership secretary and a life member of the Troy German Hall Assoc. He was an active member for the Troy Mannerchor singing with them for 65 years and was its president for more than 25 years. He also was an active singer and director of the Hendrick Hudson Male Chorus, a member of the Schuhplattler Verain Alpenklaus, the Cannstatter V.F. Verein and the president of the Badish-American KU Verein. Fred was the beloved husband of the late Cecile Gilday Kunz, and their infant son, Andrew. He is survived by sons, Joseph (Claire) of Watervliet, NY, Steve (Dolly) of Mililani, HI and Matt of Eagle Mills, NY, and daughter, Katie Pagaduan of San Diego, CA. He is also survived by six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, Kesa Kunz Shea (Aaron) and their children, Collin and Gianna and Joey Kunz (Tanya ) and their children, Joey and Anthony and Stephenie and Nick Kunz and Cullen and Caleb Pagadun. Fred is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at the Bryce Funeral Home, Inc., 276 Pawling Ave., Troy, and at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Troy where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. Interment will be in St. Jean's Cemetery, Troy. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Troy's Sacred Heart School Fund, 310 Spring Ave., Troy, NY 12180. For a private family guest book and service directions, visit www.brycefh.com