Tribology and Lubrication Technology November 2011 : Page 18

In Memoriam By Dr. Christopher DellaCorte Reflect, remember, celebrate and smile: A tribute to Harold E. Sliney A tribology pioneer and NASA legend is remembered by one of his colleagues who knew him best. O ur friend, colleague and mentor, Harold “Hal” E. Sliney , recently passed away surrounded by his loving family following a short period of declining health. Among tribology’s true pio-neers, Hal is generally recognized as the father of high-temperature solid lubrication. A retired researcher at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Hal was 84 years old. Fluoride-containing coatings, graphite-filled polyimide composites and soft metal coatings for ceramics are among his many innovations. Hal’s contributions to our field stemmed from his strong chemistry background, innovative yet methodical research ap-proach and intellectual and spiritual curiosity about people and the world around him. Hal was my mentor when I began my tribology career at NASA more than 25 years ago. He taught me how to use phase diagrams and thermo-chemical energy equations to identify materials with intrinsic stability for use in extreme chemical or tempera-ture environments. His experience working in electrochemical plating shops taught him to avoid the use of toxic ingredients in the composites we engineered. The care and thoughtfulness Hal employed in his research he embraced in his personal life as well. He and his wife Dorothy raised six children and were active in their church and com-munity. He co-founded NASA’s Karate Club and was often seen on the grounds of the lab after work practic-ing in his Gi (karate clothes). 18 • NO VEMBER 2 011 Harold E. Sliney seated in front of the NASA high-temperature pin-on-disk tribometer in 1989. Hal is holding a Stirling engine cylinder coated with his NASA PS200 coating as part of a research project. At the age of 40, Hal decided it was time he learned to ski (snow and wa-ter), and he often came to work with a slight case of sunburn and a big smile. Hal believed in a strong body, a strong mind and a strong faith. Unreservedly kind and giving, Hal coaxed these pos-itive traits from others. Hal enjoyed attending a variety of different technical meetings and was particularly fond of the International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings in San Diego. Hal was stationed there while in the Navy during World War II TRIB OL OG Y & L UBRIC A TION TE CHNOL OG Y and loved to talk about swimming in the cove at La Jolla. Meeting locations notwithstand-ing, the STLE Annual Meeting & Ex-hibition was Hal’s favorite conference. The social nature of STLE’s meeting allowed Hal to spend more time get-ting to know his colleagues and mak-ing new friends. Hal put it well when he suggested that the best interchang-es took place not in the formal confer-ence rooms but during the Welcoming Party and in the hospitality suites. Hal was a true people person. Hal contributed significantly to STLE and received much-deserved recognition, including becoming an STLE Fellow and a Life Member, win-ning the International Award in 1993 and the solid lubricants paper award multiple times. Hal will be missed but definitely not forgotten. He launched many successful careers, including my own. He will be remembered for his accomplishments, his friendship and the guiding principles he so willingly shared. (Photo courtesy of NASA Glenn Research Center) Chris DellaCorte is a research engineer with NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. He has received STLE’s P.M. Ku and Walter D. Hodson, Jr., Awards and is a multiple recipient of the Al Sonntag and Capt. Alfred E. Hunt Awards. He also is TLT’s founding editor. You can reach him at christopher.dellacorte@nasa.gov . WWW .S TLE. OR G

IN MEMORIAM

Dr. Christopher DellaCorte

Reflect, remember, celebrate and smile: a tribute to harold e. sliney A tribology pioneer and NASA legend is remembered by one of his colleagues who knew him best. Our friend, colleague and mentor, Harold “Hal” E. sliney, recently passed away surrounded by his loving family following a short period of declining health. Among tribology’s true pioneers, Hal is generally recognized as the father of high-temperature solid lubrication. A retired researcher at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Hal was 84 years old. Fluoride-containing coatings, graphite-filled polyimide composites and soft metal coatings for ceramics are among his many innovations. Hal’s contributions to our field stemmed from his strong chemistry background, innovative yet methodical research approach and intellectual and spiritual curiosity about people and the world around him. Hal was my mentor when I began my tribology career at NASA more than 25 years ago. He taught me how to use phase diagrams and thermochemical energy equations to identify materials with intrinsic stability for use in extreme chemical or temperature environments. His experience working in electrochemical plating shops taught him to avoid the use of toxic ingredients in the composites we engineered. The care and thoughtfulness Hal employed in his research he embraced in his personal life as well. He and his wife Dorothy raised six children and were active in their church and community. He co-founded NASA’s Karate Club and was often seen on the grounds of the lab after work practicing in his Gi (karate clothes). At the age of 40, Hal decided it was time he learned to ski (snow and water), and he often came to work with a slight case of sunburn and a big smile. Hal believed in a strong body, a strong mind and a strong faith. Unreservedly kind and giving, Hal coaxed these positive traits from others. Hal enjoyed attending a variety of different technical meetings and was particularly fond of the International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings in San Diego. Hal was stationed there while in the Navy during World War II and loved to talk about swimming in the cove at La Jolla. Meeting locations notwithstanding, the STLE Annual Meeting & Exhibition was Hal’s favorite conference. The social nature of STLE’s meeting allowed Hal to spend more time getting to know his colleagues and making new friends. Hal put it well when he suggested that the best interchanges took place not in the formal conference rooms but during the Welcoming Party and in the hospitality suites. Hal was a true people person. Hal contributed significantly to STLE and received much-deserved recognition, including becoming an STLE Fellow and a Life Member, winning the International Award in 1993 and the solid lubricants paper award multiple times. Hal will be missed but definitely not forgotten. He launched many successful careers, including my own. He will be remembered for his accomplishments, his friendship and the guiding principles he so willingly shared. STLE remembers DR. Wilfredo ‘Fred’ Morales This NASA scientist played a pivotal role in the space shuttle’s ‘Return to Flight’ program. STLE fondly remembers a former member, dr. wilfredo “fred” Morales, who passed away on Sept. 2 in Cleveland following a lengthy illness. Fred was 58 years old. Fred worked as a chemical engineer for 33 years at NASA Glenn Research Center. He graduated with an associate’s degree in electronics from Lorain County (Ohio) Community College and worked for Ford Motor Co. before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1975 where he did a two-year stint while earning a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Cleveland State University. At the time, Fred began working for what was then NASA Lewis Research Center as a co-op student during his third year at Cleveland State. He later earned a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Toledo, as well as a doctorate in chemical engineering also from CSU. As a young kid growing up in Spanish Harlem, N.Y., Fred had a genuine love for science and aspired to become a scientist. While at NASA, Fred was known as an expert in aerospace lubrication and tribology. He sought solutions for preventing lubricants on land vehicles from freezing on Mars and studied the operation of lubricated centrifuge rotor bearings on the International Space Station. In a recent article that was published in The Chronicle-Telegram, Fred’s son, Will, added, “He was an integral member of the team of scientists and engineers from the NASA Glenn Research Center that played a pivotal role in NASA’s space shuttle ‘Return to Flight’ program. This was the major effort undertaken by NASA to get the space shuttle flying again after the Columbia shuttle crashed.” Fred took great pride in his profession, which he showed by speaking to public school students about science and space exploration, as well as tutoring Hispanic and underprivileged kids in chemistry, math and physics. He also advised college students on possible careers in chemical engineering, too. During his career, Fred received several patents for his research and honors, including two NASA Honor Medals and the 2006 Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Award Corp.’s Outstanding Technical Achievement in Government Award. In addition, he wrote many articles that were published in numerous publications. Fred joined STLE in 1994 and worked on the Gears and Gear Lubrication, Synthetic Lubricants and Lubrication Fundamentals Technical Committees. He also was active on STLE’s Aerospace Council. Outside of work, Fred enjoyed reading, listening to music, watching movies and jogging. He was also a black belt in Judo. His most treasured time was the time he spent with his family, especially his five grandchildren who referred to him as “Pa.” Fred is survived by his wife of 38 years, Iris, along with his son, Will, and daughter, Julie, along with his mother, Aida, and two sisters, Elizabeth and Evelyn.

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