Mary died at 90 in State College on October 21, 2017 of dementia. She was born on May 20, 1927 in Champaigne, Illinois, the daughter of Rachel Talbot and Harald MalcolmWestergaard, later Dean of Engineering at Harvard. Her son Roy, a meteorologist and specialist in global warming science, predeceased her in 2010. She is survived by her brother, Peter Westergaard, her daughter Catherine, her husband Hubert, daughter-in-law Susan, and granddaughters Lacey and Lindsey. Her marriage was happy for 67 years!
Mary had an extraordinary life. With her doctorate in physical chemistry and as Research Associate at Penn State University, she carried on research in radioactive waste disposal and on cement chemistry, both with widely published results. Fulfilling civic duties, she served on State College Borough's commissions on zoning, on pedestrians, on traffic and with the University Area Joint Authority, for which she was given the XYZ Honorary Award. She also traveled the globe widely, to 6 continents including skiing on four. Her exceptional facility with several languages made that possible. Besides travel and science, classical music was an important diversion in her life.
There will be no conventional funeral. A celebration of her life will take place in the future.