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.

Services will be held at St. Michael’s Church, 1182 Ashland St, Greensburg, PA 15601

at 10:30 am, Wednesday, October 8, followed by burial in Ligonier Cemetery alongside

Patricia.

A reception will follow at St. Michael’s.

Memorial donations to fight Prader-Willi Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, may be

made to PWSA USA,1032 E. Brandon Blvd. 4744, Brandon, FL 33511.