Martin E. Barzelay of Southampton died on Monday, April 27, at Southampton Hospital. He was 91.
Born to Maurice E. and Mary Barzelay, he was born and raised in Malden, Massachusetts. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Northeastern University in 1939 and a master’s degree from Harvard University in 1941.
After serving as an aircraft designer during World War II, he joined the faculty at Syracuse University in 1947, working as a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering from 1953 until his retirement in 1978. During his tenure, his areas of interest included aircraft design, heat transfer, and safety engineering, which led to service as a consultant to NASA. He was a visiting professor at Harvard University in 1963 and 1964.
After retiring from Syracuse University, he built an active and thriving consulting engineering practice, specializing in safety engineering and in accident analysis and reconstruction. He was the author of several treatises and numerous articles in his fields of expertise.
For many years he was a leader of the reform movement in the Democratic Party in Syracuse and was active in statewide politics. He was also a highly accomplished painter and many of his works are in private collections around the country.
Until his illness, he also had a keen interest in gardening and in computers, a technology he embraced avidly in his 80s.
According to loved ones, he was fortunate to have lived a full, active and productive life as he wished to live it, with his vibrant intellect and strong will intact and with the welfare of his close-knit and loving family always uppermost in his mind.
Mr. Barzelay is survived by his wife of 67 years, Muriel; and a son, Douglas.
A commemoration of his life will be held on Sunday, May 3, at 4 p.m. at Southampton Hospital’s Parrish Memorial Hall in Southampton.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Southampton Hospital Foundation (240 Meetinghouse Lane, Southampton, NY 11968), where a fund has been established in his memory, would be appreciated by the family.
on Apr 29, 2009