In memoriam: Albin A. Szewczyk, professor emeritus of the College of Engineering | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › In memoriam: Albin A. Szewczyk, professor emeritus of the College of Engineering In memoriam: Albin A. Szewczyk, professor emeritus of the College of Engineering Published: September 10, 2020 Author: Nina Welding Albin A. Szewczyk Albin A. Szewczyk, professor emeritus of the College of Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, passed away peacefully at Hospice House in South Bend on Aug. 17. He will be remembered by family, friends and colleagues for his love of traveling, golf, Notre Dame and family, as well as his devotion to teaching. Szewczyk was born in Chicago in 1935. He was a starting athlete for football, basketball and hockey throughout high school years. He earned his undergraduate degree in engineering from Notre Dame in 1956 and his master’s degree in 1958. In 1961, he earned his doctorate from the University of Maryland. He returned to Notre Dame as an associate professor in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering in 1965 and was named a full professor in 1967. In addition to his teaching and research commitments, he served as department chair from 1978 to 1988. He also served as visiting professor at the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in London and visiting professor and scientist at the Kernforschungszentrum in Karlsruhe, Germany. He retired from teaching in 2002, having directed more than 40 graduate students, including 15 doctorate and 25 master’s degree recipients. Szewczyk was a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and member of the American Physical Society, the Society of Sigma Xi, Pi Tau Sigma, Sigma Gamma Tau and the American Society for Engineering Education. For more than 30 years he was also a member of the Algonquin Table at Notre Dame’s University Club, a group of colleagues and lifelong friends with whom he shared many memories. “When I arrived at the University in 1986, Al Szewczyk was chairman of the department,” said Mihir Sen, professor emeritus of aerospace and mechanical engineering. “He set the tone for collegiality in the department, and he and his wife, Barbara, often opened their home to faculty members, extending their family to include departmental colleagues and their families.”   “Al Szewczyk was an outstanding scholar for whose work I have the deepest admiration. As the department chairman, he was a motivating factor in my decision to come to Notre Dame,” said Flint O. Thomas, professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering. “Thirty-two years later, I can say he was responsible for one of the best decisions I ever made.” Posted In: Community News Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related September 30, 2022 New prison education initiative joins Center for Social Concerns September 19, 2022 Notre Dame Stories: Helping the Last of the Instrument Makers September 15, 2022 South Bend offers free, pre-approved house plans with input from Notre Dame September 12, 2022 Notre Dame dedicates new hydro facility along St. Joseph River in South Bend August 30, 2022 School of Architecture’s community regeneration efforts lead to $2.4M development grant for South Bend For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn