Share Samuel J. Errera's obituary with others.
Invite friends and family to read the obituary and add memories.
Stay updated
We'll notify you when service details or new memories are added.
You're now following this obituary
We'll email you when there are updates.
Select your format and elements to print
IN LOVING MEMORY OF Samuel J. Errera
Samuel J.
Errera
Jan 7, 1926 — Dec 29, 2016
Bethlehem
Samuel J. Errera's Obituary
Samuel Joseph Errera, 90, of Bethlehem, died in the solace of his home on December 29, 2016, from the ravages of Lewy Body Disease. He was the beloved husband of Jane Henninger Errera, with whom he shared the last 31 years of his life, and the late Jeannette Calise Errera, his wife of 34 years, who died in 1984.
Samuel was born to Peter and Grace Ruggeri Errera on January 7, 1926, in Hammonton, NJ, where he was baptized and raised. Upon being graduated from Hammonton High School at age 17, he was accepted into the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) at Syracuse University, based in Auburn, NY. When the ATSP ended in January, 1944, Samuel was put into active duty with the 100th Infantry Division. For his WWII service in France and Germany, he was awarded the Bronze Star.
Following his discharge from the Army in 1946, Samuel returned to New Jersey and was graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree from Rutgers University, where he was also awarded a varsity letter sweater for his performance on the 150-pound football team and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi. Samuel subsequently earned a Master of Science in Civil Engineering degree from the University of Illinois and his Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from Cornell University.
In 1951 Samuel was appointed Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at Lehigh University as well as Engineer of Tests at Fritz Lab. He joined the Cornell University Faculty in 1962 as Associate Professor and Manager of Structural Research. He was given a leave of absence from Cornell to work for Grumman Aircraft on the design of the landing gear component of the Apollo Lunar Module.
Dr. Errera returned to Bethlehem in 1970 to begin a 21-year career as Senior Consulting Engineer for the Bethlehem Steel Corporation. Upon retirement at age 65, he served for ten years as Consultant to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) in Detroit.
Dr. Errera has many publications to his credit, noteworthy among which are the Guide for Preliminary Design of Sheet Steel Automotive Structural Components, which provided the motivation for the development of the AISI Automotive Steel Design Manual and the Computerized Application and Reference System (CARS) used by the automotive industry.
Dr. Errera's service to the engineering profession included his membership in and recognition by professional organizations such as the American Society of Civil Engineers. He served as chairman of several professional committees and organizations, among them the Structural Stability Research Council.
Samuel Errera was a mentor and role model for those privileged to work with him. From age 75 into his early 80s, he continued to affect the lives of others by serving as a teacher's assistant for the Aquinas Program of the Allentown Diocese, working with middle school students who have learning disabilities.
Until his incapacitation from Lewy Body Disease, Samuel was a devout and active Christian, a faithful parishioner of Saint Anne's Catholic Church, Bethlehem. He was a charter member and president of the Serra Club of Bethlehem and a founding member and treasurer of the Knights of Columbus Council 15188.
Because Dr. Errera was an unassuming gentleman, the others of his many activities, achievements, awards, honors, and memberships will not be noted here. No better can be said of him than that Samuel heeded what the Lord required of him. Sam did justly, loved kindness, and walked humbly with his God.
Samuel Joseph Errera was predeceased in death by his parents, his brothers Dominic and Peter, his sisters Stella Capella, Frances Iuliucci, and Linda Perrone, his first wife, Jeannette, and his first child, Susan Elizabeth.
In addition to his wife, Jane, he is survived by his daughters and their husbands, Carol and Jeffrey McCandless of Nazareth and Mary and Timothy Shanahan of Chalfont; grandchildren: Scott McCandless (Candace), Amy Lawrence (Bryan), Jill A'Hearn (Jacob), Erin Shanahan, Timothy Shanahan, Cailin Shanahan, and Aubrie Shanahan; great-grandchildren Samuel, Max, and Jack McCandless and Carter and James A'Hearn. Also surviving are nieces Grace Berger, Virginia Bird, Constance Bogetti, Eileen Iuliucci, and Sandra Marinella, and nephews Leonard Errera and Austin Perrone, all of New Jersey, many great- nieces and great-nephews, and brother-in-law Wilmer Henninger (Donna) of Harrisburg.
To be remembered here with deep gratitude are Samuel's tireless, devoted, and capable daytime caregiver, Melinda Bonanni, who added years to Sam's life and life to his final years, and George Williams, Samuel's nighttime caregiver, who was also a competent and warm-hearted Godsend. Remembered gratefully, too, are the priests and parishioners of St. Anne's Church, who offered comfort and prayers throughout Sam's last years. Also to be acknowledged is the outstanding treatment provided to Dr. Errera during his three stays at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital as well as the special care given to him and his family at home by St. Luke's Hospice.
A Mass of Christian Burial for the Repose of the Soul of Samuel Joseph Errera will be celebrated in St. Anne's Catholic Church, 450 East Washington Ave, Bethlehem, at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 6, 2017. The Rosary for the Holy Souls in Purgatory will be offered Thursday at 3:00 p.m. followed by calling hours until 6:00 p.m. in the Pearson Funeral Home, 1901 Linden Street, Bethlehem, and 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Friday in the funeral home.
Samuel was born to Peter and Grace Ruggeri Errera on January 7, 1926, in Hammonton, NJ, where he was baptized and raised. Upon being graduated from Hammonton High School at age 17, he was accepted into the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) at Syracuse University, based in Auburn, NY. When the ATSP ended in January, 1944, Samuel was put into active duty with the 100th Infantry Division. For his WWII service in France and Germany, he was awarded the Bronze Star.
Following his discharge from the Army in 1946, Samuel returned to New Jersey and was graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree from Rutgers University, where he was also awarded a varsity letter sweater for his performance on the 150-pound football team and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi. Samuel subsequently earned a Master of Science in Civil Engineering degree from the University of Illinois and his Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from Cornell University.
In 1951 Samuel was appointed Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at Lehigh University as well as Engineer of Tests at Fritz Lab. He joined the Cornell University Faculty in 1962 as Associate Professor and Manager of Structural Research. He was given a leave of absence from Cornell to work for Grumman Aircraft on the design of the landing gear component of the Apollo Lunar Module.
Dr. Errera returned to Bethlehem in 1970 to begin a 21-year career as Senior Consulting Engineer for the Bethlehem Steel Corporation. Upon retirement at age 65, he served for ten years as Consultant to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) in Detroit.
Dr. Errera has many publications to his credit, noteworthy among which are the Guide for Preliminary Design of Sheet Steel Automotive Structural Components, which provided the motivation for the development of the AISI Automotive Steel Design Manual and the Computerized Application and Reference System (CARS) used by the automotive industry.
Dr. Errera's service to the engineering profession included his membership in and recognition by professional organizations such as the American Society of Civil Engineers. He served as chairman of several professional committees and organizations, among them the Structural Stability Research Council.
Samuel Errera was a mentor and role model for those privileged to work with him. From age 75 into his early 80s, he continued to affect the lives of others by serving as a teacher's assistant for the Aquinas Program of the Allentown Diocese, working with middle school students who have learning disabilities.
Until his incapacitation from Lewy Body Disease, Samuel was a devout and active Christian, a faithful parishioner of Saint Anne's Catholic Church, Bethlehem. He was a charter member and president of the Serra Club of Bethlehem and a founding member and treasurer of the Knights of Columbus Council 15188.
Because Dr. Errera was an unassuming gentleman, the others of his many activities, achievements, awards, honors, and memberships will not be noted here. No better can be said of him than that Samuel heeded what the Lord required of him. Sam did justly, loved kindness, and walked humbly with his God.
Samuel Joseph Errera was predeceased in death by his parents, his brothers Dominic and Peter, his sisters Stella Capella, Frances Iuliucci, and Linda Perrone, his first wife, Jeannette, and his first child, Susan Elizabeth.
In addition to his wife, Jane, he is survived by his daughters and their husbands, Carol and Jeffrey McCandless of Nazareth and Mary and Timothy Shanahan of Chalfont; grandchildren: Scott McCandless (Candace), Amy Lawrence (Bryan), Jill A'Hearn (Jacob), Erin Shanahan, Timothy Shanahan, Cailin Shanahan, and Aubrie Shanahan; great-grandchildren Samuel, Max, and Jack McCandless and Carter and James A'Hearn. Also surviving are nieces Grace Berger, Virginia Bird, Constance Bogetti, Eileen Iuliucci, and Sandra Marinella, and nephews Leonard Errera and Austin Perrone, all of New Jersey, many great- nieces and great-nephews, and brother-in-law Wilmer Henninger (Donna) of Harrisburg.
To be remembered here with deep gratitude are Samuel's tireless, devoted, and capable daytime caregiver, Melinda Bonanni, who added years to Sam's life and life to his final years, and George Williams, Samuel's nighttime caregiver, who was also a competent and warm-hearted Godsend. Remembered gratefully, too, are the priests and parishioners of St. Anne's Church, who offered comfort and prayers throughout Sam's last years. Also to be acknowledged is the outstanding treatment provided to Dr. Errera during his three stays at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital as well as the special care given to him and his family at home by St. Luke's Hospice.
A Mass of Christian Burial for the Repose of the Soul of Samuel Joseph Errera will be celebrated in St. Anne's Catholic Church, 450 East Washington Ave, Bethlehem, at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 6, 2017. The Rosary for the Holy Souls in Purgatory will be offered Thursday at 3:00 p.m. followed by calling hours until 6:00 p.m. in the Pearson Funeral Home, 1901 Linden Street, Bethlehem, and 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Friday in the funeral home.
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
Samuel J. Errera's Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors