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The Peter C. Rossin Bust

Peter C. Rossin (September 29, 1923-August 10, 2003) was a distinguished entrepreneur, businessman, community leader and philanthropist who founded Dynamet Inc. and donated millions of dollars to fund education projects.  After earning degrees from Lehigh and Yale universities, he began a long and distinguished career as a research engineer with Remington Arms Co.  He later became a research associate with General Electric Co. before joining Cyclops Corp. in 1955.  Mr. Rossin held several key posts, including general manager of the Titusville plant, before joining Fansteel Metallurgical Corp. as vice president of operations.  He also served as an executive with Crucible Steel Co.  In 1967, Mr. Rossin founded Dynamet Corp.  Under his leadership as chairman and chief executive officer, Dynamet became one of the world’s leading producers of titanium and nickel-base alloys for the aerospace and medical industries.  He was an active in numerous professional and civic organizations and gave freely of his time and resources on behalf of many community and church efforts.  He served with distinction on Carpenter Technology Corp. Board of Directors and Lehigh University’s and Washington & Jefferson College’s board of trustees.  Mr. Rossin and his wife, Ada, provided money to build the Rossin Campus Center at W&J and in 1999 contributed 5 million toward W&J’s Burnett Center.  In April of 1999, Lehigh University’s engineering and applied science college was renamed the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science in his honor.  Mr. Rossin also received honorary doctorates from W&J and Lehigh as well as numerous other awards.  Mr. Rossin served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II and flew 51 missions over Europe.

As written by Karen Mansfield and published in the Observer-Reporter Tuesday, August 12, 2003.