John Neidhart

San Antonio John J. Neidhart, age 88, of Kerrville, TX passed away on November 19, 2006 in San Antonio, TX from serious injuries suffered in an automobile accident.He was born in Marion, OH on May 3, 1918, the son of Joseph F. and Villa C. Neidhart. He attended Case School of Applied Science now Case Western Reserve University where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Tau social fraternity and Eta Kappa Nu electrical honorary fraternity, the fencing team, and the Case Concert and Marching Bands playing the clarinet. Shortly after graduation with a BSEE degree, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Lou Ulsh, on August 4, 1940.Neidhart worked as a lighting application engineer for the Westinghouse Cleveland Lighting Division for 16 years including a 2 year leave of absence during World War II when he was a civilian engineer with the U.S. Navy Dept. Bureau of Ships in Washington, DC working on the development, testing and production of thensecret infrared signaling equipment. While with Westinghouse he became a Registered Professional Engineer for the state of Ohio. From 1956 until his retirement in 1980, he was Application Engineering Manager for The Miller Company, the nations oldest manufacturer of commercial and industrial lighting equipment, in Meriden, CT.Taking a very active interest in the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America IESNA, he served on 14 North American committees and over the years chaired 8 of them. He also held at various times every local, regional, and North American elective office in the 10,000 member organization and was its 1968 1969 President. He was also a member of the Illuminating Engineering Research Institute Executive Committee and its Technical Advisory Committee on Light and Vision for many years. Additionally, he served the International Commission on Illumination through that groups committees and those of the U.S. National Committee. Neidhart was author and coauthor of several IESNA National Conference Papers that led to the adoption of new industry standards and lighting calculation procedures throughout the world. He also wrote numerous articles for technical magazines and was a frequent speaker and teacher at local and regional meetings all over the United States and Canada.In recognition of his technical achievements, Neidhart was elected an IESNA Fellow in 1954, received the Distinguished Service Award in 1976, was made a Fellow Emeritus in 1985, and received the lighting industrys most prestigious technical award, the IESNA Medal, in 1988.After moving to Kerrville in 1981, he became a member of the First United Methodist Church and its Keystone Sunday School Class. He was also a member of the Hill Country Camera Club, serving as President in 1985 and as Competition Chairman for many years. He enjoyed singing bass with the Hill Country Harmonizers Barbershop Chorus, the Country Gentlemen Barbershop Chorus, the Dietert Senior Center Fun with Music Chorus, the 3 Blokes and a Brit barbershop quartet later the 3 Yanks and a Dane and currently 3 Jacks and a Jill and the Church Chancel Choir.His wife preceded him in death on April 25, 1999. He is survived by a daughter, Leslie Wollnik of Overland Park, KS a son, Kenneth Neidhart wife Karen of Meriden, CT two granddaughters, Kim Verhoeven husband Jean Francois of Parkville, MO and Julie Cunnyngham husband Michael of Shawnee, KS great grandchildren, Michael and Camille Verhoeven and Will Cunnyngham, along with a host of many loving friends, neighbors, and church family.Open visitation will be held from 8 AM 9 PM, Monday, November 27, 2006 at Kerrville Funeral Home, 1221 Junction Highway. Funeral Services will be held at 10 AM, Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Warren Hornung officiating. Interment will follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery.Pallbearers to serve will be grandsonsinlaw Michael Cunnyngham and Jean Francois Verhoeven along with Larry Hesketh, Lawrence Huff, Jim Massey, and Andy Phillips.Memorials may be made to the Dietert Senior Center Building Fund or to the Kerrville First United Methodist Church Building Fund or Music Ministry.Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Kerrville Funeral Home.

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