Dr. Egon Stark


Dr. Egon Stark died of natural causes on April 12, 2017. He was 96 years old. Born in Vienna, Austria in 1920, he received his BSA in Agronomy, and his MS in Microbiology at the University of Winnipeg, Manitoba and his PhD at Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana.

For thirteen years, he was a research scientist at Seagram’s Distillers, Louisville, Kentucky. He is a Professor Emeritus, Department of Biology, College of Science, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY., where for twenty-one years he taught bacteriology, biotechnology, mycology, virology, and about human parasites. He started the biotechnology program with one tabletop fermenter, shaker, and a six-unit pilot-plant donated by Seagram. He held a US Patent for having isolated a thermophilic amylase from the medium. He is a Charter member of Phi Kappa Phi. After retirement, he taught at the Athenaeum, RIT, where he originated and presented lectures on Fine Art for fifteen years.

Egon enjoyed collecting stamps, drawing, painting, photography, gardening and playing the alto saxophone. He and his wife were active for many years in the Democratic Party of New York.

He was married to his beautiful wife Flora for sixty-one years, and is survived by three children, Sandra, Eliot, and Jeffrey and his sister, Erika Fry. In 2010, he moved to Boston to live with his daughter, Sandra.

A private service will be held. In lieu of flowers a donation to Lollypop Farms, adopt a pet, of Rochester, NY, may be made if one wishes. www.lollypop.org

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12 Condolences

  1. Danielle Aris on April 22, 2017 at 3:52 am

    Hi Sandy, I am very sorry for your loss and wish you much comfort and happiness in the memories you have of your father. Sending my deepest condolences. Best wishes, Danielle Aris



  2. Becky Stocking on April 22, 2017 at 12:49 pm

    Sandy,

    Much love to you in this sad time.

    Love,

    Becky



  3. Chip and Judy on April 22, 2017 at 1:29 pm

    Sandy,

    Sorry to here the news. We’re thinking of you.

    Chip and Judy



  4. Nellie Rosenberg on April 23, 2017 at 10:28 am

    I have fond memories of being with your parents in your home
    As a teenager-
    Thinking of you and sending love



  5. David Cyrkin on April 23, 2017 at 12:45 pm

    What a long and productive life he lived. I never knew him well but remember respecting him and his accent in your house. So sorry for your family’s loss.



  6. Franz Seischab on April 23, 2017 at 2:40 pm

    Sandy,

    I was sorry to hear about Egon. He was a valued friend and colleague, a perfectionist and taskmaster.



  7. Paul Haefner on April 23, 2017 at 3:24 pm

    I was his dep[t head at RIT. He was a stimulating presence in Biology. He made an impact on colleagues as well as on students.
    We need more Egons in this world.



  8. Jayne Keyel Brown on April 23, 2017 at 10:44 pm

    Dr. Stark was my all time favorite teacher ever! His lessons in microbiology and life have remained with me for over 40 years! He truly was a great person. So sorry for the loss of such a wonderful educator.



  9. Carol Bloom on April 25, 2017 at 12:30 am

    Dear Sandy, Eliot, Jeffrey,
    I will never forget your very impressive Dad, going all the way back to our teenage years. A mind like his is a loss to the world.
    Love and best wishes to you during this sad time.
    Carol Bloom



  10. Diane Bloom on April 25, 2017 at 1:03 am

    Dear Sandy, Eliot, Jeffrey,

    I am so sorry to hear the news about your Dad. Wishing you peace and comfort during this sad time.

    Love,
    Diane



  11. william j muto, tucson az on April 28, 2017 at 3:02 pm

    One of my favorite professors at RIT back in the 60.s. Great sense of humor and inspiring teacher, still remember much of what he taught. Congratulations on a long full life. He will be remembered fondly by many.



  12. Robert McGrath on May 10, 2017 at 3:40 pm

    For many years at RIT Dr. Stark taught Environmental Microbiology to our Civil Engineering Technology students among whom he had a legendary reputation for delivering a demanding yet invaluable and interesting course.



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