Obituary of Michael Temoshok

Michael Temoshok ScotiaMichael Temoshok, longtime turbine generator engineer and manager at the General Electric Co., died peacefully March 30, in the same Scotia home where he lived for 60 years and raised a family with his wife of 67 years, Ruthann. He was 93 years old. He was born Feb. 9, 1920, in Northampton, PA, the son of Mary Perhailo Temoshok, who came to the U.S. as a child from Austria-Hungary, and Matthew Temoshok, born in Western Ukraine, who also settled in Northampton. Mr. Temoshok was a 1941 graduate of Lehigh University, earning a BS degree in electrical engineering. He joined GE's Test Program in 1941 as a key member of the team in Fort Wayne, IN which designed electric generators used on ships during WWII and on the Pacific Islands, once the U.S. forces landed. These generators had to be portable and easy to repair. Thousands were used in the Pacific during the war. Mr. Temoshok moved to Schenectady with his bride, Ruthann in 1945. He worked in GE's large steam turbine generator division; his specialty was advance excitation systems for power plant generation. After his formal retirement in 1982, he continued to consult for GE for another 10 years, with associates in the U.S. military, Sweden, Russia and Ukraine. Affiliated since 1941 with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the world's largest professional association for the advancement of technology, he was presented with the IEEE Power Engineering Society's Distinguished Service Award in 1981. Mr. Temoshok was cited for his outstanding service, leadership and contributions to the Power Generation Committee. In addition to serving as the Committee's chairman, vice chairman, and secretary, he also served as chairman of the organization's Excitation Systems Subcommittee, and as a member of numerous working groups involved in producing industry standards. He published over 60 industry papers, including 40 for IEEE audiences. Mr. Temoshok was an accomplished photographer, golfer, and bowler. With his wife, Ruthann, he supported many musical organizations in the Capital District, particularly the Schenectady Symphony, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and the Union College Concert Series. He enjoyed spending summers with his children and grandchildren at the family's camp in Rubacks Grove, Galway Lake. Mr. Temoshok was predeceased by his wife, Ruthann (June 3, 2012); his parents; and his siblings, Nicholas (infant), Anna (age 13), Mary Temoshok Paley, Olga Temoshok Kirchmayer, and Steven Temoshok. He is survived by his children, Dr. Lydia Temoshok of Ellicott City, MD, David Michael Temoshok of Alexandria, VA, and Mike Russell Temoshok (Lisa) of Galway, NY; grandchildren, Nicholas Temoshok-Roberts of Ellicott City, MD, Calvin Floyd, Henry Augustus and Roger Francisco Temoshok of Galway, NY, and Alexander Ford and Marisa Jane Temoshok of Alexandria, VA; and a number of nieces and nephews. All of Mr. Temoshok's friends and family are invited to a celebration of life service to be held Saturday, April 27 at 2 p.m., following a 1 p.m. visitation with the family, at the Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Rd., Glenville, NY. Immediately afterward, there will be a reception at the family's home in Scotia.