George T. Privon

George T. Privon George T. Privon, 88, passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 30, 2012 in Johnson City, TN. George was born on December 22, 1923 in Cicero, Illinois. He graduated from Morton High School in 1941. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, George joined the U.S. Army and served stateside as a meteorologist. Using the GI Bill to put himself through the University of Michigan, George earned dual degrees in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering in 1949. He earned a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kentucky in 1951. Following graduation, George was hired by the Carlyle Division of Carrier Corporation in Syracuse, New York, where he designed compressors for Carriers industrial AC systems and was awarded two patents for his contributions to compressor design. He was a life member of the ASHRAE Society (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) where he served on various panels and committees. In 1971, George left Carrier Corporation and with two other industry-recognized engineers formed the start-up team for Cardinal Compressors on Euclid Avenue in Bristol, Virginia. Cardinal Compressors was purchased by Sundstrand Corporation and later spun off to become what is now known as Bristol Compressors. George later went to work for the Department of Energy in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (contractors were Union Carbide and later, Martin Marietta.) The years he spent working in Oak Ridge were some of the most enjoyable of his career allowing him to use his practical engineering experience to help entrepreneurs and start-up organizations develop new, innovative energy saving technologies. He retired from Martin Marietta in 1990. George was very dedicated to his family and especially his children. He coached their little league teams and enjoyed playing golf with his sons throughout the remainder of his life. Before he was married, George was an Assistant Scoutmaster for a local troop in Syracuse. He was a lifelong fan of University of Michigan football and watched their games on television every fall. Always a great philosopher of life, Georges family remembers some of his sage words of advice including: 'There are two days in your life you will always remember, the day you got out of the Army and the day you were married.'? 'Everything in moderation, including moderation.'? 'Stay out of Trouble.'? 'If I cant hit a 7-iron, I have no business playing golf.'? 'You have to be better off after you get married than you were before.'? George is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jean Marie Privon and five sons, Robert J. Privon (Gladys), Newark, Delaware; Christopher J. Privon (Keron), Eagle, Idaho; George G. Privon (Cheryl), Honolulu, Hawaii; Lewis J. Privon, Falls Church, Virginia; and Mark H. Privon, Johnson City, Tennessee. He is also survived by four grandchildren, George C. Privon, Peter T. Privon (Katy), Christopher J. Privon II, and Lily Guardado. A Funeral Mass is scheduled for Monday, May 14, 2012 at 1:00pm at St. Annes Catholic Church, 350 Euclid Avenue, Bristol, VA 24201, under the direction of Father Tim Keeney. The family will receive friends from 12:00pm until time of service at 1:00pm. Final internment will be at St. Agnes Cemetery in Syracuse, New York.

George T. Privon George T. Privon, 88, passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 30, 2012 in Johnson City, TN. George was born on December 22, 1923 in Cicero, Illinois. He graduated from Morton High School in 1941. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, George joined the U.S. Army and served stateside as a meteorologist. Using the GI Bill to put himself through the University of Michigan, George earned dual degrees in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering in 1949. He earned a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kentucky in 1951. Following graduation, George was hired by the Carlyle Division of Carrier Corporation in Syracuse, New York, where he designed compressors for Carriers industrial AC systems and was awarded two patents for his contributions to compressor design. He was a life member of the ASHRAE Society (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) where he served on various panels and committees. In 1971, George left Carrier Corporation and with two other industry-recognized engineers formed the start-up team for Cardinal Compressors on Euclid Avenue in Bristol, Virginia. Cardinal Compressors was purchased by Sundstrand Corporation and later spun off to become what is now known as Bristol Compressors. George later went to work for the Department of Energy in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (contractors were Union Carbide and later, Martin Marietta.) The years he spent working in Oak Ridge were some of the most enjoyable of his career allowing him to use his practical engineering experience to help entrepreneurs and start-up organizations develop new, innovative energy saving technologies. He retired from Martin Marietta in 1990. George was very dedicated to his family and especially his children. He coached their little league teams and enjoyed playing golf with his sons throughout the remainder of his life. Before he was married, George was an Assistant Scoutmaster for a local troop in Syracuse. He was a lifelong fan of University of Michigan football and watched their games on television every fall. Always a great philosopher of life, Georges family remembers some of his sage words of advice including: 'There are two days in your life you will always remember, the day you got out of the Army and the day you were married.'? 'Everything in moderation, including moderation.'? 'Stay out of Trouble.'? 'If I cant hit a 7-iron, I have no business playing golf.'? 'You have to be better off after you get married than you were before.'? George is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jean Marie Privon and five sons, Robert J. Privon (Gladys), Newark, Delaware; Christopher J. Privon (Keron), Eagle, Idaho; George G. Privon (Cheryl), Honolulu, Hawaii; Lewis J. Privon, Falls Church, Virginia; and Mark H. Privon, Johnson City, Tennessee. He is also survived by four grandchildren, George C. Privon, Peter T. Privon (Katy), Christopher J. Privon II, and Lily Guardado. A Funeral Mass is scheduled for Monday, May 14, 2012 at 1:00pm at St. Annes Catholic Church, 350 Euclid Avenue, Bristol, VA 24201, under the direction of Father Tim Keeney. The family will receive friends from 12:00pm until time of service at 1:00pm. Final internment will be at St. Agnes Cemetery in Syracuse, New York.