Pieter von Herrmann ’50

Pieter von Herrmann ’50 died on July 1, 2013, his birthday. At Dartmouth he majored in mathematics, was a member of Theta Chi and worked at the Indian Bowl restaurant. Coming from Germany, “Piet,” as he liked to be called, had never seen an American football game. One “home” Saturday a friendly fellow student who had just that day met Piet and learned of his football ignorance, offered to swap a ticket to the game for a one-day job at the Indian Bowl, and so Pieter was introduced to football. The two remained friends. He was “ignorant” in just that one subject, however. After graduation he attended the University of California in Berkeley, returned to Dartmouth for his master’s and earned his Ph.D. at Yale in nuclear physics in 1956. He then married Mary Turner, who bore him children Joan ’80, Timothy ’82, Mary and Anne, who gave him eight grandchildren. Pieter spent 30 years with General Electric in several locations and in several capacities, including that of nuclear physicist. He was one of the pioneers in successful efforts to launch America’s first nuclear submarines. Having moved to Shaker Heights, Ohio, at retirement in 1987 he became involved with Cleveland State University, building and directing an advanced manufacturing laboratory to bring together industry, faculty and students to do research and development as well as automation for industry. A lifelong supporter of Habitat for Humanity, church member and elder, music lover (Mary plays the cello), skier, sailor, gardener and advisor to family and friends, Pieter was an accomplished man of whom Dartmouth can be proud. He is survived by his wife, four children and eight grandchildren.