Jack J. Rudnick, 86, engineer

Jack J. Rudnick, 86, of Devon, a science and math whiz who worked as an aerospace engineer for more than 30 years, died of congestive heart failure at his home Sunday, Nov. 18.

Born in Philadelphia and raised in the Wynnefield section, Mr. Rudnick graduated in 1942 from Overbrook High School and earned a bachelor's degree in science from the University of Pennsylvania by age 19.

In 1946, Mr. Rudnick completed a master's degree in science and engineering from the university. He launched a career in the defense aerospace industry; his work as a project leader centered on national security issues.

"He was not allowed to talk about it, but to make up for it, he would talk about the people he worked with," said his wife, the former Lorna Kirsch.

Mr. Rudnick worked for Radio Corp. of America from offices in Camden and Moorestown, and after General Electric Co. bought RCA in 1986, he would attend project meetings in King of Prussia, his wife said.

"He had a very, very brilliant mind and he could grasp anything, but mostly he loved the engineering part of his position," his wife said.

Mr. Rudnick retired in July 1990 and became a consultant on engineering projects for Sarnoff Laboratories in Princeton. He stopped making the long commute in 1993 when the projects ended.

Mr. Rudnick met his wife, a divorced mother of two, at a swim club in the late 1950s. The 39-year-old bachelor happily married her and became a father to her boys, ages 6 and 8.

"This is what I want in life," he told her. "I waited a long time to be married, and I'm lucky to have you and the two kids."

The couple traveled to Turkey and Greece to satisfy his love of history and architectural ruins. They also traveled to slake his thirst for the natural world.

"I'm dying for Alaska," he once said, so the couple booked a cruise there, and flew in a helicopter over a glacier. "He never stopped educating himself," his wife said.

Surviving, in addition to his wife and sons Scott and Carl, are three grandchildren and two nephews.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, at Joseph Levine & Sons, 2811 West Chester Pike, Broomall. Interment will be in Haym Salomon Memorial Park, Frazer. Shivah will be observed at the family residence through Wednesday evening.

Donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20004.