In Memory of Frank J. Worzala

Frank was a dedicated, innovative teacher; an accomplished author and presenter; an effective administrator; and a skillful researcher and technical advisor.

When Frank J. Worzala retired from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering July 1, 1996 after twenty-nine years on the faculty and five years as chair of the department, he had many plans for an active retirement. In fact, one of the highlights of his retirement party held at the home of Susan E. Babcock and Thomas F. Kelly, was the presentation of a custom mountain bike built especially for him by a group of Thomas F. Kelly's undergraduate students. With its top-of-the-line hardware and hand-crafted frame, it is truly a work of art and a tribute to the man who was meant to ride it. Sadly, on August 15, 1996, just a month and a half into his retirement, Frank died of a heart attack while jogging at Picnic Point.

This picture of Frank, says his son-in-law Evan Cantor, was taken about two weeks before he died. "We spent three nights backpacking in southern Colorado and Frank, of course, as you must know, had a blast. I can still see him sitting around the campfire puffing away at a cigar...raising a huge flame as he learned how to operate the little backpack stove...tearing a rock apart to get at the little pockets of sand inside...taking a stick and playing golf with a huge red mushroom...staring down a huge cow that we came across in a meadow....It would have been one of those "great" trips anyway; knowing it was our last with Frank makes it even more dear...The photograph captures something about Frank's spirit, his joie-de-vivre and ebullient love of life; it was a lucky shot!" (32K JPG)

Frank was a dedicated, innovative teacher; an accomplished author and presenter; an effective administrator; and a skillful researcher and technical advisor. As chair of the department, he worked tirelessly to recruit top-notch students for the undergraduate program, and during his tenure the undergraduate enrollment increased steadily. Frank received the Polygon Teaching Award three times during his career and was known for his rapport with students. His door was always open and his energetic, positive outlook was a magnet to many. Especially noteworthy was his work with the Senior Design Course where his ability to mentor students and work with Wisconsin industry executives to set up student projects will be gravely missed.

During his career, Frank served as an undergraduate advisor and as faculty advisor for the student ASM/TMS Chapter. He also directed the Materials Science Program and served on numerous University and College committees. In 1986, he received the Onstad Award for service to the nonacademic community.

Frank published widely in the areas of materials processing, surface modification and structure/property relationships. He also served as a technical consultant to a number of Wisconsin companies working to develop new technologies and improve their products. Specializing in plasma spray coatings and other technologies designed to improve the surface properties of materials, Frank worked with companies like Fisher-Batron Corporation of Watertown, Thermal Spray Technologies of Sun Prairie, Trek Bicycle Corporation of Waterloo, and Resource Management Associates (RMA) of Madison. In fact, Frank was deeply involved in an RMA project at the time of his death.

An avid runner, skier, and backpacker, Frank loved exercise and the outdoors. His death came just days after a week-long backpacking trip to Colorado. In his last competition, the 1996 Madison Triathalon, he won a silver medal in his age division. Frank is survived by his wife, Diane, nine children and seven grandchildren.

To honor his memory, his children have purchased a bench for "his spot" by the swimming dock at the Wisconsin Union Terrace where he loved to go for a beer or a cup of cappuccino after work. So when you're in the neighborhood, relax on the bench and raise a glass to the memory of Frank.