Obituary of Alexander Sesonske

Alexander Sesonske passed away peacefully at Olympics West Retirement Inn, Tumwater Washington October 29, 2013 with family and friends nearby. He was born June 20, 1921 in Gloversville, New York to Abraham and Esther (Kreitzer) Sesonske. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1942, his Master’s from the University of Rochester in 1947, and Ph.D. from the University of Delaware in 1950. Alex worked on the Manhattan Project from 1943-45 and was on staff at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory from 1950-54 and 60-61. He also served as a consultant from 61-63. Alex was hired as an associate professor of chemical engineering by Purdue University School of Nuclear Engineering in 1954 and originated the School of Nuclear Engineering at Purdue. Over the period 1954 to 1957, he brought nuclear engineering from an introductory course for chemical engineers to an interdisciplinary graduate program open to students from various engineering disciplines. In 1955, the first edition of Nuclear Reactor Engineering by Samuel Glasstone and Alexander Sesonske was published. Subsequent editions in two volumes have long been the principal introductory textbooks in reactor engineering. He was Acting Head of the Department of Nuclear Engineering from 1966-1973. Alex retired from Purdue in 1986. Alex contributed numerous articles to professional journals. He was also the recipient of the Wall of Fame Award (University of Delaware, 1988), and the Arthur H. Compton Award (Fellow American Nuclear Society, 1987). His many achievements include research on nuclear fuel management, liquid metal heat transfer, and nuclear reactor engineering. Alex married Marjorie Ann Mach in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1952. Their son Michael was born in 1954 in Los Alamos. Later that year, they moved to West Lafayette, Indiana when Alex joined the faculty at Purdue University. Their daughter, Jana, was born in 1955. When Alex retired, he and Marjorie moved to Rancho Bernardo, California, in August 1986. They remained active members of the Unitarian Church as they had been in West Lafayette. After Marjorie passed away in 1995, Alex remained in southern California for several years. He travelled to France, and parts of the U.S. on Elderhostel excursions. In 2002, he moved to Olympia, Washington to be near his daughter. He joined the Olympia World Affairs Council, enjoyed the Olympia symphony, and attended many dinner parties with friends and family. He is survived by his son, Michael Sesonske of Portland, Oregon; daughter, Jana Sesonske of Olympia; and grandson, Tony Burroff, of Eugene, Oregon. Alex was respected by his colleagues, and loved by his family. Those wishing to make a donation in Alex’s name may donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Please leave memories of Alex or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.