Walter Sieckmann

Walter Sieckmann was born in Dusseldorf, Germany, to Heinrich and Ernestine (née Neschen) Sieckmann on June 7, 1931. Walter's early years were difficult, experiencing WWII and then post-war Germany. In 1957 Walter graduated with honors from RWTH Aachen University with an equivalent master's degree, plus post-graduate studies in chemistry, ferrous metallurgy, and engineering. RWTH Aachen University is the largest university of technology in Germany and one of the most renowned in Europe.

Walter began his career in the United States in the steelmaking equipment industry in 1959 when he joined Lectromelt Corporation, then the world's largest supplier of electric arc furnaces. While at Lectromelt Walter developed new technology for vacuum degassing and ladle metallurgy and engineering of turnkey projects principally for the steel industry. He invented significant improvements involving steelmaking metallurgy and practice and was granted over 60 patents throughout his career.

In 1969 Walter was elected president of Lectromelt. Shortly thereafter he joined Pennsylvania Engineering Corporation (PECOR) and, as president of PECOR, brought Lectromelt, Birdsboro Corporation, and Northern Crane into a single engineering, manufacturing, and construction company with expertise in virtually every phase of the steelmaking process. For almost twenty years thereafter PECOR built steelmaking facilities, provided heavy melting and metallurgical equipment, and carried out complex engineering and construction projects throughout the world. PECOR's expertise went beyond the steel industry into any industry involving the conversion of raw materials or waste materials into energy.

In addition to his duties as the chief operating officer of PECOR, in 1984 Walter was asked to oversee the operations of Sharon Steel Corporation, a leading supplier of specialty steels in the U.S., to improve efficiency and reduce costs at Sharon Steel. In 1986 Walter became the full-time chief operating officer of Sharon Steel as well as COO of Mueller Brass (the premier producer of copper and brass components) and the head of Sharon Steel's Natural Resource Division with coal, copper, and gold mining operations in the Midwest and Alaska.

In 1990 Walter was responsible for bringing Sharon Steel out of Chapter 11 in partnership with Castle Harlan, Inc., a highly successful equity investment banking firm. In 1992 Walter left Sharon Steel to devote his full efforts to International Steel Services Inc. (ISSI), which became the successor to the acid regeneration and chemical process technology of PECOR.

Walter was the founder and chief executive officer of ISSI, incorporated in 1989. He was also the CEO of American Iron Oxide Company (AMROX). ISSI and AMROX were the leading acid regeneration companies in the world and the largest producer of regenerated iron oxide, used in many industries, including the computer, printing, and automotive industries, principally in magnetics.

Acid regeneration facilities are specialized industrial plants designed to recover and recycle "spent," or used, hydrochloric acid from manufacturing processes like steel pickling. By converting waste acid back into a high-purity, reusable form, these facilities reduce both environmental waste and the cost of purchasing fresh acid. Together, ISSI and AMROX controlled approximately 30% of the world's iron oxide distribution.

ISSI owned and/or operated 11 facilities worldwide with 414 employees. Including administrative and sales offices, ISSI had 16 locations worldwide, including Tarapor, Bokaro, and New Delhi, India; San Nicholas, Argentina; Ensenada and Monclova, Mexico; Toamasina, Madagascar; Anshan, China; Annecy, France; and New Caledonia.

During his career Walter has served on the board of directors and committees of numerous public companies. He has been honored by his peers for his contribution to the steel and metallurgical industries.

Walter's colleagues, many employees, associates, and many friends have lost a beloved mentor and leader. Walter didn't just see the world as it was; he saw it for what it could become. He was a leader who lived in the future, constantly challenging us to look past seemingly insurmountable hurdles and to instead focus on tasks that could be completed in the present to achieve the dream on the horizon.

Walter was fond of reciting two lines from the German poem "Wert der Zeit" (Value of Time) by Friedrich Ruckert to remind us all to make good use of every precious moment:

"Nie stille steht die Zeit, der Augenblick entschwebt,

Und den du nicht benutzt, den hast du nicht gelebt."

Roughly translated to: "Time never stands still, the moment floats away, and the one you don't use, you haven't lived." We will miss Walter forever, but we are far better for having shared our "moments" in time with him.

Walter is survived by his beloved wife, Edith (née Erdelyi), the light of his life for over 69 years; sons Michael and Martin (LaWana) Sieckmann; and 4 grandchildren in which he delighted -- Stephen, Alex, Ava, and Thor. At the end of Walter's life, when asked what made him most proud, Papa Bear responded with this exact quote:

"What I'm most proud of is, I always provided to my family everything I could, and they did not want for anything. Whether it was education or support, I always made sure that my family did not have any wants, that everything was taken care of."

The family would like to express its deepest gratitude to Walter's friends, colleagues, employees, and associates who faithfully supported him over his long and productive career and life - we are truly very blessed.