NAUGATUCK — Eugene S. Hertel, Sr. passed away on June 21, 2018. He was born Aug. 8, 1923 in Providence, R.I. to Frank M. Hertel and Katherine (Stenpek) Hertel.
He served in the U.S. Army and landed in Normandy June 8, 1944, two days after the initial surge and served in the European Theater of Operations earning five ribbons along with two battle stars.
After his service, he graduated from University of Rhode Island in 1950 with a B.S. in chemical engineering, the first in his family to attend college. He was elected to Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Sigma Mu Honorary Engineering Society. He attended graduate school at North Carolina State University, graduating in 1952 with an M.S. degree in chemical engineering and a minor in mathematics. He was elected to Sigma Xi, an honorary research society.
His professional career included research positions at Allied Chemical Nitrogen Division in Hopewell, Va. and Uniroyal (formally US Rubber) Chemical Division in Naugatuck. He pioneered the use of computers for optimization of chemical processes for both organizations.
He was on the adjunct faculty of the graduate school at University of New Haven for 22 years in computer sciences. Using his expertize with computers he designed a course, Decision Support Systems, to help management make decisions.
He and Rachel enjoyed traveling in the U.S. They took multiple trips to Albuquerque to visit their son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren. Using Albuquerque as a base, they took side trips to Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco, Long Beach, Seattle, Vancouver, San Antonio and Mexico. They enjoyed a cross country train trip from New Haven to Los Angeles with stops in New Orleans, Albuquerque, and Chicago before returning home. They participated in multiple trips with the Heritage Village seniors.
He leaves a loving and caring wife, friend and companion, Rachel, who shared almost 68 joyous years, mother of two sons, Dr. Eugene S. Hertel, Jr., and daughter-in-law, Christine Northrop of Albuquerque, N.M.; son, Richard A Hertel, and daughter-in-law, Shellie Hertel, of Naugatuck; daughter, Barbara of Southbury; five grandchildren, Jessica and Justin Hertel, Jessica and Ryan Salazar, and Zacarie Hertel; and brother, Frank Hertel of Wickford, R.I., and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by sisters, Jennie Miele, Bertha Villari, Stasia Bouchard, Helen Lavery, and his daughter-in-law, Dr. Lynn A Hertel.
Services for Mr. Hertel are private, and there are no calling hours. The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow St., is in charge of arrangements. A military memorial service will be held at the cemetery at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Warrior, P.O. Box 337, 35 Main St., Versailles, CT 06383. The American Warrior program sponsors free trips for the rapidly diminishing number of WWII veterans to visit the WWII Memorial, Air Force, Navy, and Marine sites in Washington, D.C.
To view these arrangements online, share a condolence or an online photo, visit www.fordfh.com.
