William Mirsky
William Mirsky, professor emeritus of mechanical engineering, died Jan. 22. He was 70.
Mirsky was born July 10, 1922, in Prystan, in what is now the Ukraine. He was the son of Peter and Mary (Yewush) Mirsky. He attended public school in Hartford, Conn., then received a B.S. in mechanical engineering at the University of Connecticut in 1944, and M.S.E. (1951) and Ph.D. (1956) degrees from the U-M.
He joined the U-M as assistant professor of mechanical engineering in 1956, was promoted to associate professor in 1958 and to full professor in 1964. Upon his retirement in June 1989, the Regents said: “Prof. Mirsky’s interest in engineering education has been shown by his revision and updating of undergraduate courses as well as his interest in setting on-line computers for automotive testing in course work and research.”
He served in the U.S. Army on the Manhattan Project during World War II. He had industrial experience with Westinghouse Electric Corp., General Motors Corp., United Aircraft and Detroit Edison.
“His expertise in combustion and emissions has been sought by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Public Health Service. His knowledge and experience have also been recognized by a number of professional organizations,” the Regents noted. “He has served on the Society of Automotive Engineers E-31 Committee on Aircraft Emissions.”
Mirsky was also a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Combustion Institute, Sigma Xi and Phi Kappa Phi.
After he retired from the U-M, Mirsky volunteered his skill in computer programming and teaching about computers to the Salvation Army, the Learning in Retirement program at Turner Geriatric Services and the Burns Park Senior Center.
He married Shirley G. Bloomquist on Sept. 2, 1950, who survives him. He also is survived by son and daughter-in-law John and Renate Mirsky, Sullivan’s Island, N.C.; daughter and son-in-law Janet and David Horst, Mobile, Ala.; grandchildren Sonja and Steffen Mirsky and Eric Horst; half-brother Harry; half-sister Mary Varnaitis; a niece; and two nephews. He was preceded in death by a half brother, Steven.
A memorial service is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today (Feb. 1) at Calvary Presbyterian Church, 2727 Fernwood St.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Professor William Mirsky Memorial Scholarship Fund, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics.
