Charles L. Mamzic, (Charlie) Sr. 1924 – 2022

Charles L. Mamzic, 97, known to friends and family as Charlie, a resident of Lansdale PA for over 60 years passed away May 12, 2022, at Elm Terrace in Lansdale PA, with his wife Margaret by his side.

He and his wife, Margaret (Bender) Mamzic, would have observed their 36 th wedding anniversary this year. Born December 6, 1924, in Steelton, PA, he was the son of the late Elijah and Helen (Kendlich) Mamzic. After graduation from Harrisburg Catholic High School in 1942 in Harrisburg, PA, he entered Villanova University. He applied for entry into the Pennsylvania Maritime Academy in late 1943 and was later sworn into the Naval Reserve as midshipmen in March 1944. He returned to Villanova in 1947 and graduated in 1948 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He was hired by Moore Products Co., a Philadelphia manufacturer of process control instrumentation, and became their first Application Engineer. In December 1948 during the Berlin Airlift operations, he returned to active duty aboard the USS Mercury followed by the destroyer tender, USS Grand Canyon. Although scheduled for discharge from the Navy in August 1950, the Korean war broke out and Charlie received orders to remain on active duty aboard the USS Miller, a Fletcher class destroyer.

In January 1952, Charlie left the Navy and returned to his civilian job at Moore Products Co. Most of his career at Moore was spent in Application Engineering, solving process control problems in various industries. In 1959 he was made Manager of Application Engineering. In 1977 he earned his Professional Engineers license in Control Systems Engineering and in 1979, became Director of Marketing and Application Engineering for Moore. A gifted public speaker, Charlie had a way of mixing wit and humor with complex technical topics and was a much sought-after lecturer in the chemical industry throughout the world. In 1982 Charlie was elected a Fellow in the Instrument Society of America, with the citation for “pioneering applications of advanced multi-loop control”. He authored many magazine articles and papers on instrumentation and control. He was a contributing author for two editions of the Instrument Engineers Handbook in use in the industry at that time and was a contributing author to Van Nostrand’s Scientific Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. He was credited with three patents, one of which covered the basic operating principles of a very successful line of self-synchronizing controls. He retired from Moore in June 1990. During his career at Moore, he oversaw the growth of the Application Engineering Department to more than 80 engineers.

Following his retirement, the Instrument Society of America requested that he edit a book on Statistical Process Control, which was completed in 1994, and published in 1995.

In addition to his passion for process control and automation, Charlie was a lifelong lover of model railroading, Villanova football and basketball, and a devoted Philadelphia Eagles fan. So devoted a Nova fan he was, that he was honored at halftime, midfield, by Nova Football Head Coach Andy Talley with an autographed football, for being one of the longest Nova football and basketball season ticket holders.

He was a lifelong member and past President of the Pennsylvania Schoolship Association (PSA), established in 1955 with the purpose of maintaining contact with shipmates, and to preserve the history of the Pennsylvania Nautical School (previously the Pennsylvania Maritime Academy). He also served on Lansdale Borough Council, tirelessly promoting preservation of the Borough’s Electric Utility. Following retirement, he volunteered his time to a variety of civic and church duties including Meals on Wheels, delivery of Holy Communion to shut-ins, and assisting adults learning to read. A lifelong member of St. Stanislaus Church, he also sang in the all-retiree funeral choir for many years.

Charlie was preceded in death by his spouse, Polly (Vise) and son Andrew Q. He is survived by his wife Margaret (Bender) and by his sons Charles Jr. and wife Angela (Collier), Curtis and wife Deborah (Carter), Paul and wife Mary (Buehrle), daughter Amy and husband William Weinholtz, Jr., three step-children, Lori and husband Russell (Jacques), Mark Allseits, Thomas Allseits and wife Debbie. Also surviving Charlie are his grandchildren, Paul and wife Carrie (Workman) Matthew and wife Sarah (DiMeglio), Michelle and husband Randolph (Findley), Lisa and husband Jordan (Reiss), Michael, Curtis C., Cameron, and two step-grandchildren, Sarah and husband Justin (Homan), Erin and husband Trevor (Hall). Charlie had nine great-grandchildren, Mary-Kate Findley, Jacob Findley, Amelia Reiss, Colette Reiss and Jackson Reiss, Zoe, Emma, Mason and Ethan, and seven step-great-grandchildren Alden Homan, Liberty Homan, Gianna Homan, Marissa Homan, Audrey Homan, Colby Homan and Genevieve Hall.

Charlie will be fondly remembered as Pop-Pop or Uncle Charlie by his grandchildren and great- grandchildren. For the girls he instilled a love of Opera and Showtunes by gently force feeding them The Merry Widow and other classics. To see the girls perform any dance or song would light him up. Watching a grandchild dribble a basketball would bring cheers. All the children will remember heading down to his basement to play with Pop-Pops trains where he would let them run the controls and speed up rounding the curves and of course Pop-Pop sitting in his recliner, Manhattan in one hand, peanuts in the other, yelling at a basketball or football game on TV. As they grew up, they began to appreciate engaging him in conversation about anything and everything including sports, history, science or politics. His recall of minor detail was encyclopedic. His kindness and shared sense of humanity could transcend the most heated discussion. Most of all he will be remembered for his sense of humor, thankful heart and sharp wit.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Special Olympics in honor of Charles’ deceased son Andrew Quentin at www.support.specialolympics.org

Services will be held at St. Stanislaus Church, 51 Lansdale Avenue, Lansdale, PA 19446. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 10:30, on Saturday, May 28 th with Mass of Christian Burial to follow. Following Mass, graveside services will be held at Greenlawn Cemetery, Sumneytown Pike and Allentown Road, North Wales, PA 19454. Graveside services are open to all friends and family. Due to increasing levels of COVID infection, we request that masks be worn for the services.

A private luncheon will be held for family at Elm Terrace Gardens following interment.