We have been honored to call these men our Brothers. The condolences of Theta Chi’s extended worldwide family are offered to the family and friends of our deceased brothers.

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of:

Harold W. Stetson ‘50 - Nov. 24, 2020
Vincent P. Tortta ‘57 - Jan. 17, 2021
Michael A. Kuhar ‘59 - Dec. 23, 2020

Harold Wilbur "Stets" Stetson, Ph.D., of Newtown, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Nov. 24. He was 94 years young.

Dr. Stetson was born on July 2, 1926, and was raised in Bristol, the middle son of the late Harry and Martha (Smoyer) Stetson of Langhorne Manor. He is predeceased by his wife, Grace, a beloved English teacher at Council Rock Intermediate School, Newtown, to whom he was married for 63 years. He was the brother of the late Harry Stetson of Bristol and John Stetson of New Jersey. He is survived by three children, Edith Zoë Stetson (Mike) of Branford, Conn., Robert Leister Stetson (Patty) of Newtown, and Harold David Stetson (Lori) of Newtown, and sister-in-law Irene Leister (Howard) of Doylestown.

Dr. Stetson graduated from Bristol High School on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Last year he attended his 75th class reunion. As with many other members of our Greatest Generation, Dr. Stetson enlisted in the Navy after high school. He was a radioman and waist gunner on "The Loose Goose," a PBM-5A Martin Mariner flying boat. His seaplane was the first to return after a futile search for lost "Flight 19" in the Bermuda Triangle. He received the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He also served several terms as president of the Mariner/Marlin Association, dedicated to the WWII Navy veterans who flew Martin PBMs. In addition, he was a member of the Newtown American Legion Morell Smith Post 440.

After leaving the Navy, Dr. Stetson attended Penn State University. A member of Theta Chi fraternity, he received his B.S. in Chemistry in 1950, his M.S. in Ceramic Science in 1952 and his Ph.D. in Ceramic Science and Engineering in 1956. This was the beginning of an award-winning career as an inventor and patent holder.

After three years at Corning Glass Works, Dr. Stetson joined RCA in Somerville, N.J., in 1959. There he invented and patented a tape lamination-cofire process for interconnecting integrated circuit chips using cavities and vias still used throughout the world. In 1964 Dr. Stetson became affiliated with the Western Electric Research Center in Princeton, N.J., as Research Leader-Ceramics. He was the senior inventor of SuperStrate®, an ultra-smooth, 99.5 percent alumina substrate produced commercially under two patents. SuperStrate ceramic substrates remain the industry standard for most of today's high-reliability, thin-film electronics applications.

Dr. Stetson cofounded Ceramic Metal Systems in 1969, and he was with the Electronic Research Laboratory of TRW in Philadelphia from 1973 until his retirement in 1986. He was also a retired member of the technical staff at Heraeus, Inc., Cermalloy Division, West Conshohocken, Pa.

Elected a Fellow of the American Ceramic Society (ACerS) in 1988, he was honored that year with their Samuel Geijsbeek Award from the Pacific Coast Sections. He was a member of the ACerS Electronics Division, served as president of National Institute of Ceramic Engineers (NICE), and is a past chair of the Philadelphia Section. In 1990 Dr. Stetson received the Wilhelm R. Buessem Award from the Pennsylvania State University Center for Dielectric Studies. That year he also received the Founder's Award from the Philadelphia section of the ACerS. In 1995 he received NICE's highest honor, the Greaves-Walker Lifetime Service Award.

He was a long-time member of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, co-founding Chapter 76. Like his father, he was a Mason and member of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. He was also active in the Newtown Presbyterian Church for many years.

Dr. Stetson's other interests included steam trains and engines, clocks and pocket watches, classical music, and photography, to name just a few. He looked forward to annual trips to the Rough and Tumble steam show in Kinzers, Pa., and Reading's WWII Airshow. For years he was a fixture at Brown Brothers Auction in Buckingham. An original American picker, he and his best friend, Garrett Morrell, spent many happy times selling their finds (and acquiring new treasures) at the Golden Nugget Flea Market in Lambertville, N.J. They enjoyed nothing more than bargaining and joking with their customers and then buying coffee with their profits. He passed on his enjoyment of auctions, flea markets, timekeeping and photography to his children.

He had a great sense of humor and enviable character attributes of integrity, humility and compassion. As Newtown resident for more than 50 years, Dr. Stetson will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by his family, friends and many others for a life well lived.

His interment will be held privately in the future at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery.

If you choose, please send a donation to a veteran's organization in support of our national heroes and in remembrance of America's Greatest Generation.
Swartz/Givnish Funeral Home, Newtown
www.lifecelebration.com

Vincent Paul Trotta, 85, of Freedom passed away on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, at Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

He was born Dec. 17, 1935, in Mount Union, Pa., and was the son of the late Vincent Trotta and the late Josephine (Zinobile) Trotta.

Vincent went to Captain Jack High School in Mount Union. He graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Science. He went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania, where he obtained a Master of Science in Physics and Chemistry Education.

Vincent was director of financial aid and associate vice president of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, from 1965 to 1990. Later, he worked at various human resource and administrative roles at Metropolitan State University, Cardinal Stritch University and Tennant Co., BF Goodrich and United Defense.

Vincent was a member of Muskies Inc. Hall of Fame. He was a moderator of weekly discussion groups on current events at Liberty Hill Neighborhood Association and was a former Scoutmaster, Little League coach and local school board member.

He was an avid and successful muskie fisherman, supporter of all things Penn State, family traveler and regularly engaged in inciteful political discourse.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane (Stanko) Trotta, whom he married on June 6, 1964; three sons, Vincent (Melanie) Trotta of Enid, Okla., Dr. Michael (Rochelle) Trotta of Cranberry Township, and Christopher Trotta of Valleyview, Ohio; six grandchildren, Michael Trotta, McKinzie Trotta, Meagan Trotta, Christopher Trotta, Matthew Trotta and Mark Trotta; one sister, Rose McCavitt of Indiana, Pa.; four nieces, Jeanne Ferguson, Kathleen Zajd, Colleen Hope and Kiri Woods; and two nephews, Brian McCavitt and Dean McCavitt.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Magliere and Ann Thompson.

TROTTA - Friends of Vincent Paul Trotta, who died Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, will be received from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, 124 E. North St., Butler.

A private Parastas service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Radko Blichar of St. John the Baptist Byzantine Church officiating.

Burial will take place in Rose Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Annual Fund, Advancement Office, Alumni House, 210 Meadville St., Edinboro, PA 16444, 814-732-2992, or advancement@edinboro.edu.

Online condolences can be given at www.thompson-miller.com.

To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.

Michael August Kuhar - This is a self written obituary in the third person. Michael August Kuhar was born as the middle child of the three children of parents, Anna (Seykoski) and August Kuhar, both deceased. The Kuhars lived on Highland Avenue, Monessen, PA, when he attended Holy Name Parochial School for his first eight years of schooling, during which he sang in the choir, served as an altar boy and was an actor in the class plays.

He attended Monessen High School for four years, when he practiced for three years with the varsity basketball, volleyball and track teams without earning a varsity letter. He was an actor for the Junior Class play and was the publicity chairman for the Senior Class play. For his last two years, he was the homeroom president. Michael was a reporter for the school Greyhound Gazette Newspaper and for the Greyhound yearbook.

After graduation in June 1955, Michael attended the summer session at Penn State University, University Park, PA, and was admitted as a freshman in the School of Business Administration. As a sophomore, he became the pledge class captain in rushing at Theta Chi Fraternity. As a junior and senior, he has the paid position of caterer and managed the food budget and kitchen staff for the fraternity. For all four years, he received tuition assistance from a Senatorial Scholarship.

For the summers after his freshman and junior years, he served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class at Quantico, VA. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the USMC upon graduation from Penn State in June 1959.

Michael began his active duty with the Marine Corps in August 1959 at MCB Quantico, VA. After eight months of schooling, he was transferred to Camp Schwab, Okinawa, where he became a Motor Transport Officer with the Third Reconnaissance Battalion. After 15 months, he was transferred to Wyoming, PA, where he became the Assistant Inspector Instructor for the Marine reserve unit.

Michael extended his three year obligation for nine months and when released, he began a career as a Special Agent with Naval Intelligence. His career included tours of Philadelphia, PA, Naha, Okinawa, and Toledo, OH. At the age of 50, he retired from this federal service career and became a commission salesman for various companies. At age 60, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in his Marine Corps reserve career.

During his initial tour at Toledo, OH, he met, dated, got engaged and married Carolyn M. Lewandowski. It was he who became the luckiest man in the world. They lived in Point Place and had three children, Michael W., Deborrah S. and Nicole M. (Kane); and seven grandchildren. Michael is also survived by various cousins.

Michael in his spare time was an arbitrator for the Toledo Better Business Bureau for 18 years, and a Lucas County precinct judge for elections for nine yrs. He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church, a member of the Knights of Columbus St. Lawrence Council #4169, and a Fourth Degree member of the Bishop's chapter of the Knights of Columbus. He was the last president of the Parents Teachers Association for the Point Place Junior High School, before the facility was closed.

Michael was admitted on December 3, 2020, to St. Charles Mercy Hospital with Covid pneumonia. His battle led to a transfer to St. Vincent Mercy Hospital where he continued to fight until he peacefully passed on December 23, 2020. He was surrounded by his wife, Carolyn of 54 years; and his three children, Michael, Deborrah, and Nicole.

His hobbies included gardening and attending EVERY school and sporting event that he could for his seven grandchildren, Katelyn, Kylie, Colin, Kara, and Callie Kane, and Michael and Ethan Kuhar. He is also survived by daughter-in-law Diana Kuhar, son-in-law, Michael Kane, and four nephews, Richard and Chad Kuhar and Blacque and Brad Clement.

He requested to be cremated and have his ashes distributed in his garden and on his childhood yard at Monessen, PA.

A Funeral Mass will be 11 am on Monday, January 4, 2021, at St. John's Catholic Church, 5153 N. Summit St. Toledo. There will be memorial visitation for an hour at the church prior to the Mass.

David R. Jasin-Hoening Funeral Home, Toledo, has been entrusted with arrangements. Please adhere to COVID guidelines during services.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Online expressions of sympathy may be made by visiting

Chapter Eternal - Stetson '50, Trotta '57 & Kuhar '59