George William Petznick, Jr.

George William Petznick, Jr. (Dec 6, 1937 - Nov 7, 2024) of Shaker Heights was the son of Dr. George W. Petznick and Julia Jeanella Baughman Petznick. He was raised in Shaker Heights, graduating in 1955 from Shaker Heights High School. He attended Case Institute and earned an MS from Cornell before following J. Barkley Rosser to the University of Wisconsin where he earned a PhD in Combinatory Programming in 1970. He and Rosser were computer pioneers.

In his career in mathematics and computer science he earned a reputation in both the public and private sector for being a reliable problem solver, particularly for the US government. He also worked for Harris Corporation in Cincinnati and in Melbourne, FL, before settling in Huntsville to work with NASA and the army at the Redstone Arsenal. Wherever he worked, he also taught, most recently at the University of Alabama at Huntsville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to The City Mission at 5310 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44103. The family will hold a graveside memorial service at Highland Park Cemetery on Wed, Nov 13 at 11am.