Karl F. Schoch

Karl F. Schoch, retired mechanical engineer died on August 28 at age 100. He was born in Poughkeepsie, NY to parents Karl H. Schoch, a pattern maker at the DeLaval Separator Co., and Emma (Bramm) Schoch, a homemaker. After graduating from Poughkeepsie High School in 1943, he enlisted in the US Navy V-5 aviation cadet program and then transferred to the V-12 Navy College Training Program at the University of Rochester. He was commissioned an ensign prior to assignment to the Navy Supply School at Harvard University. He was discharged in 1946 and returned to the University of Rochester to complete his bachelors degree in mechanical engineering in 1947, elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

Mr. Schoch joined the General Electric Engineering Test Program in 1947, ultimately joining the General Engineering Laboratory in Schenectady, NY, which later became part of the Corporate Research and Development Center. Most of his career involved development of cryogenic and superconducting equipment, including gyroscopes, power transmission cable, electrical generating equipment, and magnets for magnetic resonance medical imaging. He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, including service as chair of the Committee on Low Temperature and Arctic Region Heat Transfer in the Heat Transfer Division. He is a co-inventor of six issued patents and co-author of a number of publications and conference presentations related to cryogenics. He retired from GE in 1991 after 44 years of service.

Growing up in Poughkeepsie, Mr. Schoch and his twin brother, Emil, were enthusiastic members of the Poughkeepsie YMCA, working at Camp Wa Wa Segowea in Southfield, MA during the summers. They spent much time on the Hudson River, and bicycled from Poughkeepsie to the YMCA Camp, as well as from the YMCA Camp to Burlington, VT and back. On a different occasion, they bicycled from their home to the Delaware Water Gap and back. They lettered in track in high school, where both were pole vaulters.

Motorboating was his primary hobby throughout his life up to his early 90s. Most of his boating was in the Adirondacks and on Sebago Lake in southern Maine.

Mr. Schoch was a long-time member of the First Reformed Church of Scotia, serving as a consistory member in the early 1970s.

He was predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Mary Ellen (West), who was head of the reference department at the Schenectady Public Library in the 1950s. He was also predeceased by his brother, Emil. He is survived by his son, Karl F., Jr. “Eric” (Deb) of Catonsville, MD, two granddaughters, one great granddaughter, and three nephews and their children, cousin, Katherine Jaycox.

The family will receive friends at the Christopher Mitchell Funeral Home 21 W. Avenue, Albion on Wednesday September 10, from 11:00-12:00pm, followed by his funeral service at 12:00pm. Interment in Mt. Albion Cemetery with military honors.

Memorial donations may be directed to Smith Park, Inc., the non-profit currently operating Camp Wa Wa Segowea. https://www.campwawa.org/smith-park

To share a special memory of Karl, please visit: www.mitchellfamilyfuneralhomes.com