John Edelman

John Thomas Edelman, 91, of Indiana, Pa., died of a stroke on Tuesday, April 3, 2013, at Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh.

He was born Oct. 19, 1921 in Pittsburgh, a son of John Thomas and Anna Belle Edelman. During World War II he served in the Merchant Marines sailing on supply ships for the troops in the Far East.

After the war, Jack worked in the accounting department for the Link Belt Corporation, a division of the Food Manufacturing Corporation in Chicago.

In an amicable buyout, FMC acquired the Syntron Corporation of Homer City. During the 1950s Carl Weyandt, the owner of Syntron, recruited Jack as its secretary-treasurer. In 1970, at the time of his departure from Homer City, Jack held the position of assistant general manager.

While living in Indiana he gave freely of his time and talent, serving as a trustee of the Syntron Foundation, a member of the Indiana County Planning Commission and the Chamber of Commerce. He was also a board member of the Indiana Area School District.

His transfer to FMC’s headquarters in Chicago resulted in his working as a manager of the Machinery Group, the largest operating group. In 1972 Jack was elected a vice president and was assigned a wide array of administrative responsibilities.

When FMC named him chairman of the ethics oversight committee, he felt profoundly honored. He was very committed to his duties and was rewarded with a long, successful, fulfilled career.

Jack graduated from Penn Hills High School in Pittsburgh and Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., where he earned his degree as a certified public accountant.

His calm, courteous demeanor will be remembered by all who knew him. By nature he was tolerant, generous and forgiving. He was a gentleman with a wonderful sense of humor who did not take himself too seriously.

Taking long nature walks in Arizona, where he resided for 23 years, Pennsylvania and other adventure destinations gave him immense pleasure.

Listening to jazz music, creating funny rhymes, attending performances by the Pittsburgh Symphony and the public theater kept him young in spirit to the end of his journey.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Edelman; and his daughters, Patricia Schalla of Fowler, Colo., Nancy Edelman of Chicago and Barbara Arellano of St. Helens, Ore.; and their families including grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dolores, and the mother of his daughters.

According to his wish, his remains were donated to Science Care. There will be a private memorial at a later date.