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William J. Diskin | Electrical engineer, 56

William J. Diskin, 56, of Folcroft, an electrical engineer and guitarist, died of lung cancer Tuesday, June 1, at home.

William J. Diskin, 56, of Folcroft, an electrical engineer and guitarist, died of lung cancer Tuesday, June 1, at home.

For more than 20 years, Mr. Diskin designed control systems for Everite Machine Products in Philadelphia. The firm manufactures electrochemical grinding equipment that has military applications. Early in his career he traveled to Army bases around the country on classified projects, his wife, Donna Crooks Diskin, said. He also traveled on business to Indochina and South Korea. Previously, he had been an engineer for Lansdowne Steel for 10 years.

Mr. Diskin graduated from West Philadelphia Catholic High School and earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from Temple University. He told his wife he learned to play guitar at 15 to pick up girls.

Over time, the guitar became his passion, she said. He had a studio in their home where he spent hours practicing. He played classical compositions as well as blues and rock and roll. He didn't perform publicly but played for his own pleasure, his wife said. He was also a talented songwriter, she said.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Diskin is survived by a daughter, Jenifer; a son, John; stepchildren William and Lisa Ellis; a sister; two brothers; eight grandchildren; and his former wife, Teri Diskin.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday, June 7, at Knoetgen Funeral Home, 746 Kedron Ave., Morton. Friends may call at 9 a.m. Burial will be in East Lawn Cemetery, Ridley Township.