Andrew Stanley Sweetana, Jr.

Andrew Stanley Sweetana, Jr. passed away July 31, 2019 at St. Vincent Hospice, Carmel, IN. He was born January 15, 1930 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, son of Andrew S. Sweetana Sr. and Mary (Herman) Sweetana. He attended St. John’s Catholic Elementary School and Allentown Central Catholic High School graduating in 1947. He was a Varsity Team member in high school, lettering in baseball. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served on the ship USS Chilton APA 38, from 1947 until 1952, including the Korean War. He attended Fire Control Schools at the Great Lakes Training Center at Great Lakes, Illinois and was selected for advanced training in Washington, D.C. He was responsible for all fire control equipment including gun drives, radar and computer equipment and gun sites on the USS Chilton. He was honorably discharged in 1952 as Petty Officer First Class. He received the Japanese Occupation Medal, China Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal for his service. After discharge from the U.S. Navy, which he proudly served, he enrolled at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin studying electrical engineering. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1956. He co-authored a thesis on management, a requirement for graduation. He was President of his social fraternity his junior year. That year the school elected him St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Engineers. As St. Patrick, he had authority over the faculty and staff to cancel exams and classes for the day, and held a celebration parade down Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee. Upon graduation in 1956 he accepted a position with the Westinghouse Electric Corporation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After a six months training program he accepted a position as Design and Development Engineer at the Electronic Tube Division in Elmira, New York. In this position, he assisted in new developments of Image Orthicon and Vidicon Camera Tubes and also electron beam optics, glass to metal seals, cathodes and vacuum processing techniques. In 1958 he transferred to the Westinghouse Distribution Apparatus Division in Bloomington, Indiana, as a Design and Development Engineer for products in the electric utility industry. In 1961 he received the Master Degree in Business Administration from Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. He was promoted to Engineering Manager for High Voltage products until he retired in December of 1989 having served 33 years with the Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Over the course of years, he became a well-known engineering expert on high-voltage capacitive transformers and surge arresters. He was an author of several technical papers on capacitive transformers and surge arresters published internationally in Engineering journals. He was awarded nineteen United States patents in this field describing a method for producing a high energy absorbing metal oxide varistor used in surge arrestors and other patents covered areas of power capacitors, line traps, voltage transformers and fuse cutouts. He attended the world’s first conference on metal oxide surge arresters in Tokyo, Japan in 1978. He traveled extensively in the United States for technical meetings and internationally to India, Germany and Sweden. He was project manager of a $1.5 million contract, five-year joint research project (Westinghouse and the Electric Power Research Institute) for design and developing the world’s first gapless 1200 kv metal oxide surge arrester. He was a Senior Life Member and held chairmanship in the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and IEEE Power Society. He also was a member of the National Electrical Manufacturers Standards Committee as well as the United States America National Institute to assist in setting industry standards. The Alumnus Committee from the Milwaukee School of Engineering in 1981 honored and presented him with the most Outstanding Alumnus Award for his class of 1956. He was honored by being included in MSOE graduation ceremony in 1981. He was involved in several philanthropic and community affairs having served on several United Way committees, Monroe County Tax Board and a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. He served a term as President of the St. Charles School Board. He managed the Jaycee Chamber of Commerce Little League Baseball team for several years; his team having won the City Championship in 1962. In his personal life, he was completely entranced by meeting Connie Lewandowski while a student at MSOE, they were married in July of 1956 in Thorp, Wisconsin, a celebrated life of 63 years together. He is immensely proud of his three daughters, Susan, Stephanie and Andrea. He was their rock and guiding light through the years. He was a man of dignity, integrity, faith, family and country. Andrew is survived by his beloved wife, Constance, three daughters, Susan (Michael) Armstead, Sacramento California, Dr. Stephanie Sweetana, Carmel, Indiana, Andrea (Christopher) McCampbell, Los Angeles, California. Brother, Stanley (Rita) Sweetana, North Hampton, Pennsylvania and several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated, August 5, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. by Father Thomas Kovatch at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Bloomington, Indiana. Visitation at the church begins at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Valhalla Memorial Gardens Mausoleum Chapel with military rites provided by Veterans Honor Guard, American Legion Post #18, Bloomington, Indiana. A grateful thank you to St. Vincent’s Hospice, especially Lindsey, Roshanda, and Carla, and to Julie for making each day a good day. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Andy may be made to St. Charles Catholic School. Allen Funeral Home and Crematory 4155 South Old State Road is handling the arrangements and online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with family and friends at www.allencares.com. Your thoughts are deeply appreciated. Thank you.

Tributes

Andrew Stanley Sweetana, Jr.

January 15, 1930 - July 31, 2019