Two Professors Retire

On May 14, CETA said good-bye to two long-time professors in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department: Louis Godbout and Thomas Gendrachi. Both were presented with cake and gifts at the last faculty meeting of the academic year, May 14.

Dean Lou Manzione with Tom Gendrachi and Lou Godbout

After several years in industry, Professor Gendrachi began his teaching career at Ward College in 1977, when Ward was becoming a baccalaureate-granting member of the University. Now he is the last faculty member to retire who was teaching at Ward at that time. He taught in the Electrical Engineering Program, specializing in microprocessors but instructed in virtually all of the analog and digital electronics courses in the curriculum.

In addition to his teaching, Professor Gendrachi served on many College and University committees including the Faculty Senate. When the Lambda Epsilon chapter of Tau Alpha Pi, the engineering technology honor society was established in 1986, he became the faculty advisor and served in that capacity until 2005. He also is registered Professional Engineer (Del.) and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).

In his retirement, Tom will enjoy his two children and two grandchildren and his west coast swing dancing.

Professor Godbout, who joined the University in 1976, served in the United States Air Force before attending college and earning his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. As a member of the College of Engineering, he taught electronics courses including electronic circuits, digital system logic, discrete signals and control, and random signals and noise.

Professor Godbout published extensively in journals and in peer-reviewed conference proceedings and worked closely with local industry on several projects, some in association with the Engineering Application Center. He was named College Professor of the year in 1978, 1982, 1985, and 2003. He is a member of IEEE and Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society.

Joining Lou in his retirement are his wife, Maryann, and daughter, Rachel.

The faculty, staff, and students of CETA wish Tom and Lou long, healthy and happy retirements.

Tom and Lou cut their retirement cake.