Obituary of Albert Donald Rickmers

ALBERT D. RICKMERS, SR. 90 passed away on March 26, 2014. Born to Otto and Laura (Kyle) Rickmers on June 29, 1923 in Benton, Pennsylvania, Albert Rickmers lived on the small family farm until Otto's massive stroke suddenly left Albert and his 11 siblings fatherless during the depth of The Great Depression. Albert and four brothers (Leo, Claude, Paul, and William) were sent to the HERSHEY School for Fatherless Children where he lived in GREEN HILLS-FARM SEVEN. Rickmers was an accomplished athlete, became a skilled carpenter, and developed an interest in math while in HERSHEY. One of Rickmers' proudest moments in life came in 1970 when the HERSHEY School named him their "ALUMNUS of the YEAR". AWARD WINNING EDUCATOR: Rickmers earned his bachelor's degree and teaching certification from Bloomsburg State College, his first masters degree from Saint Bonaventure University and his second and third masters degrees from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Rickmers taught high school math and science, coached sports, and played minor league baseball while living in Ellicottville, NY in the early 1950s. In 1955, Rickmers was recruited to Rochester, New York to join the faculty of RIT's up and coming School of Graphic Arts and Photographic Science. An expert in the burgeoning new field of applied statistics, Rickmers earned tenure and Full Professor status at a relatively young age. It was no surprise when Professor Rickmers was named RIT's "Teacher of the Year". Not only could he make the challenging subject of applied statistics come alive for his students year after year, the textbook he and Professor Hollis Todd co-authored, STATISTICS - AN INTRODUCTION (McGraw Hill) became required reading in universities around the world and has been translated into over a dozen languages. Rickmers also authored several ground breaking articles for leading professional journals about the use of applied statistics to achieve quality assurance. His work in non-parametrics was particularly noteworthy. Rickmers was named a Fellow in the American Society of Quality Control (ASQC). GLOBAL CORPORATE CONSULTANT: The consulting firm of Rickmers, Shoemaker, and Todd (RST Associates) was formed in response to the numerous requests from major corporations for assistance in utilizing applied statistics to improve quality and production processes. During one consulting assignment, Rickmers participated in the creation of bar coding for product identification and inventory control. Rickmers was among a small group of pioneers in the field of applied statistics that included Doctors Ed Deming, Joe Juran, Mason Wescott, Phillip Crosby, Richard Freund, and Fred Leone. On some weekends and during semester breaks, Professor Rickmers provided consulting services for Xerox Corporation, Eastman Kodak, Cormac, and other companies. Then, for 10 years following his retirement from RIT in 1980, Professor Rickmers traveled around the world on a full time basis for Xerox Corporation, Eastman Kodak, Hoechst Celanese, SE Johnson, and James River Graphics. SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY: After Rickmers graduated from HERSHEY, he signed up for the US Marine Corps. The recruiters recognized his potential and assigned him to INSTRUCTOR duty teaching pilots and bombardiers in the B25 airplanes. Rickmers helped to perfect the accuracy of NORDON bombsights used during World War II. His military service did not end when he was discharged with honors from the US MARINES in 1946. Professor Rickmers was one of the core faculty members for the US NAVY and US AIR FORCE contracts with RIT's School of Graphic Arts and Photographic Sciences. Numerous graduates of these special programs went on to important careers in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Professor Rickmers was granted high level security clearance and the US Air Force sought his assistance during the Cuban Missile Crisis in the early 1960s. The work and advice of Professor Rickmers played a crucial role in national security, particularly during the Cold War. AS A FATHER, Rickmers took the time to attend parent/teacher conferences, concerts, science fairs, graduations, etc. He helped his children with homework (especially math). He served as a deacon in church and was a Sunday school teacher for several years. He drove his children to music lessons, band practice, and doctor's appointments. He brought his children with him to the farmer's market and grocery store. Professor Rickmers enjoyed playing cards (including bridge) and watching baseball. PROFESSOR RICKMERS IS SURVIVED BY : -children - Katharine Christopher (attorney), Albert D Rickmers, Jr (engineer), Aldonna R. Ambler (business growth consultant), and Martha R. Rodwell (nonprofit executive). -step children - Jean & Richard Cotton, Robert & Antonia Fasick, Rick Scaggs, and Cynthia & Brian Yentes - grandchildren - Carla (Julie) Christopher, Debbie & Shawn Powell, Danielle & Carl Chatterton, Steve & Susan Boreing, Mason Rickmers, Stephan & Kialee Rodwell, Devin Rodwell, Erika Rodwell, and Sheila Rodwell - step grandchildren - Richard Cotton Jr, Jennifer Cotton, Elise Fasick, Kevin Fasick, and Brian Kunkel - great grandchildren - Janessa Powell, Landyn Powell, JaeLyn Chatterton, Carson Chatterton, Ty Boreing, Ethan Boreing, Khloe Boreing, DeAsia Rodwell, Alyssa Rodwell, and Jayce Santos Professor Rickmers is pre-deceased by son Jonathan Rickmers, first wife Zelda Cutlip Rickmers, second wife Rena Cutlip Fasick Rickmers, son-in-law Chester W. Ambler III, and step daughter Janet Scaggs. FRIENDS AND RELATIVES ARE INVITED to a memorial service for Professor Rickmers beginning at 2:00 PM on Monday, 3/31/2014 at CROSSROADS United Methodist Church at 43454 Crossroads Drive in Ashburn, Virginia 20147. Professor Rickmers' ashes will be interned later at a private family service at Grove Place Cemetery 2775 Chili Avenue Rochester, NY 14624. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, the family of Professor Rickmers requests that donations be sent to: HERO of Washtenaw County, in Michigan; American Cancer Society, or the American Red Cross.