Alex Simkovich

Alex Simkovich, PhD, 91, formerly of Ligonier, PA, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 29, at Vineyard Ranch Assisted Living in Temecula, CA with sons Greg and Don bedside.

Alex was born December 25, 1933 and grew up in Jacob’s Creek, PA as the youngest of five children. He graduated South Huntingdon High School, Class of 1951, and became one of America’s space pioneers.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in engineering from Penn State University and a Masters in metallurgical engineering (1956). He was a Navy ROTC recipient and worked at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, DC where he played a pivotal role in the development of the Vanguard satellite, the nation’s first solar-powered satellite launched in 1958.

During an interview with the Tribune Review in May 2018, he remarked that the Vanguard is the oldest man-made object in space and that he “engraved his name onto one of the interior pieces of metal before the satellite was loaded in the three-stage rocket.”

Alex was awarded a doctorate from Carnegie Institute of Technology (Carnegie Mellon
University) and started his corporate career at Latrobe Steel where he spent 15 years in
research and development.

He was active in the American Society for Metals.

In his personal life, Alex was involved at St. Michael’s Orthodox Church, Greensburg,
PA.

Alex is survived by his sister, Mary Coroneos, of Norwalk, CT; Greg [spouse Lu-Wei],
Temecula, CA; Don [spouse Cindy], Altadena, CA; six grandchildren and four great-
grandchildren.

Wife Patricia Joy passed in 1999 and daughter Chrisia in 2019.

Alex will be buried in Ligonier Cemetery alongside Patricia.