Obituary of Joseph Lenard

Joseph A. Lenard, 82, a long-time resident of LaGrange, died peacefully on December 22, 2014, at home surrounded by his family. He was a loving husband, father and friend to everyone who knew him. Joe was born June 28, 1932, in Dudley, MA, the second of two sons of Martha Krupinski and Joseph J. Lenard. At Bartlett High School in Webster, MA, Joe was elected class president in his junior year and was on its baseball team that played for the 1950 Massachusetts State Championship. Joe enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1951 and coordinated air support on the front lines as sergeant in 2nd ANGLICO, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines Division. After the war, he continued his service in a NATO exercise from 1953-54 under the command of Capt. Don Conroy (aka "The Great Santini"). Joe also was Sergeant of the Guard, rendering military honors, when the U.S.S. Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine, was commissioned by First Lady Mamie Eisenhower in 1954. He received numerous commendations and decorations for his service, including the Korean Service Medal with three battle stars. Joe graduated from Worcester Academy and earned a B.S. in physics from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1959. While in school, he married Irene A. Deptula in Webster on June 21, 1958. After graduation, Joe accepted a job offer from IBM Corp. and he and Irene moved to LaGrange, NY. He was the first engineer hired at IBM's East Fishkill microelectronics facility and was an expert in process engineering. He grew the first silicon crystals and designed processes at the site that evolved into the mammoth Advanced Semiconductor Technology Center. In 1976, he was transferred to IBM's Sindelfingen facility in West Germany and served there until 1978. Joe retired from IBM in August 1992 after a 33-year career there, holding numerous positions including senior engineer in the Components Division. Active in the community, Joe was elected to two terms as councilman for the Town of LaGrange (NY) in the 1970s and helped shape the town's next several decades of growth. Joe is survived by his wife Irene Lenard of LaGrange, three children: Jeff Lenard of Falls Church, VA; Jane Lenard of Wurtsboro, NY; and Amy Lenard of New Paltz, NY, as well as three grandchildren: Rachel and Sydney Lenard and Lila Salmeri. A memorial service will be under the direction of the Timothy Doyle Funeral Home, 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie, and will take place on Jan. 3 at 12:00 pm. There will be a one hour visitation from 11am to 12pm In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Sgt. Joseph A. Lenard, USMC, to the Semper Fi Fund at 825 College Blvd., Suite 102, PMB 609, Oceanside, CA 92057 (www.Semperfifund.org).