John Thomas 'Jack' Kauffman

John Thomas 'Jack' Kauffman, 83 of Oxford, PA and North East, MD, formerly of Emmaus, PA died Sunday, February 28, 2010 at the Ware Presbyterian Village, Oxford, PA. Born in Weehauken, NJ, on August 17, 1926, he was the son of the late William Carl and the late Frances Elizabeth Egolf Kauffman. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Julia A. Crouch Kauffman of Oxford, PA and North East, MD; his daughters: Anne Elizabeth Kauffman Zayaitz of Emmaus, PA, Janet Lynn Kauffman Wood and husband David of Perryville, MD; grandchildren: John R. Zayaitz and friend Kate R. Hart of Macungie, PA, Margaret A. Zayaitz of Emmaus, PA; step-grandchildren: Sara Wood and husband Mike Hickey, Joni Wood and husband Jeff Peebles; and step-great grandchildren: Tyler and A.J. Hickey. Mr. Kauffman entered Purdue University in February 1943 and was initiated into the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. In November 1943 he was accepted into the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY. As a cadet, he served in World War II at Enewetok and Guam, supporting the fleet in the Philippine Sea Operation as part of the Okinawa invasion in April, 1945. He served as a Merchant Seaman with the United Fruit Company and also the American Export Lines. He graduated from the US Merchant Marine Academy in December 1946 and was commissioned an Ensign in the US Naval Reserve. He returned to Purdue University and graduated in 1950 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He retired from the Naval Reserve as a Lt. Commander. He worked 42 years for Pennsylvania Power and Light PPL and was eventually elected President, CEO and Chairman of the Board; during which time he was involved in the completion and operation of Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant in Berwick, PA. He was very proud to be instrumental in getting the Christmas Lights back on the PPL Tower Building. Mr. Kauffman was past Commodore of the North East River Yacht Club, enjoying his boat, Anjanulie. He received the Outstanding Mechanical Engineer Award from Purdue University. He was a member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers; American Nuclear Society and Pennsylvania Society. He was a former Consistory member of St. John's UCC, Emmaus, PA; Chair of the following associations: Pennsylvania Electric Association, Utility Nuclear Waste Management Group, Edison Electric Institute Business Education Effort, and Co-Chair of Kutztown University Presidential Advisory Board. He served as a Board Member for: Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry; Pennsylvania Business Roundtable; Pennsylvanians for Effective Government; Pennsylvania 2000; Lehigh Valley Partnership; Lehigh Valley Business Conference on Health Care; Hillside School and the Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity. He served as a Trustee for the Lehigh Valley Business Education Partnership Lehigh Valley 2000; National Alpha Sigma Phi Education Foundation; and Trustee and Chair of the Development Committee for the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels, MD. He served as Director for American College Testing Corporation ACT; Cecil County College Foundation; PA Audubon Society and Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Nature Conservancy. He was appointed by Governor Tom Ridge to serve as a Commission Member of the Commonwealth of PA 21st Century Environment Commission; was President and Board Member for Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and an Advisory Committee Member of the Minsi Trails Councils of Boy Scouts of America. Funeral services, conducted by Rev. Lisa Weida will be held on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 11:00 AM at Crouch Funeral Home, 127 South Main Street, North East, MD, with visitation for family and friends beginning at 10:00 AM. Interment will be Friday, March 5, 2010 at 11:00 AM in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Pottstown, PA. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, March 5, 2010 at 4:00 PM at Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Home, 17th & Hamilton Streets, Allentown, PA, with visitation for family and friends From 3:00 PM until 4:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Kutztown University Foundation for "The Kauffman Family Scholarship for Science and Mathematics" at the Kutztown University Foundation, P.O. Box 151, Kutztown, PA 19530 or www.kutztown.edu/foundation/ways.shtml. Or also to the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Inc., 6600 York Road, Ste. 100, Baltimore, MD 21212.