Obituary of Hugh S. Maxwell

Niskayuna, N.Y. - Hugh S. Maxwell, of Algonquin Road in Niskayuna, passed away peacefully on November 9, 2008 at his home in NY. He was born January 27, 1914 in Wichita, KS the son of Dr. Roscoe C. Maxwell & Ada Sickner Maxwell; the grandson of William Smith Maxwell & Josephine Alice Highlands Maxwell pioneers who traveled by train to Emporia, KS, then by ox driven wagon, to settle in Newton, KS in 1869-70. Hugh Maxwell is survived by his devoted wife Barbara Andre Maxwell, his nephew Martin Mc Ilory & Heather Hutchenson, his niece Michele Mc Ilroy Preston & Nathan Preston & grandnieces Lucy & Malia; cousins Lois Demos & family and Ruth Baruth Lee of California. He was predeceased by his first wife Mary Margaret "Honey", his daughter Jacquelyn Fay and cousin Doris Whitham. Hugh was a cum-laude graduate of Kansas State University with degrees in Electrical, Structural and Civil Engineering and joined General Electric Company in Schenectady, NY in 1935. Hugh was a world renowned Hot Rolling Mill Specialist for the Steel Industry, highly respected internationally and among his co-workers as he traveled the world for GE, until retirement. Hugh was a life member of the Association of Iron & Steel Engineers & The Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers, Inc. In his later life Hugh developed the Maxwell Family Farm in Wichita, KS partnering to build Corporate Hills and the Wichita Marriott Hotel. Hugh was a self-made man eager to learn new things constantly. He gathered information about people and had many different intellectual pursuits. He always found time to be kind to people and animals, was actively involved with the environment, valued the intelligence and companionship of young people especially Gary Demos, Steven Whitham, Christopher Viaggi, and Matthew Gajewski. Mr. Maxwell's family is grateful to Luz Myriam Guzman Morales for her dedicated care, devotion and love for Hugh for several years, and the excellent care from Dr. Mina Sun and all of Hugh's nurses. No formal services will be held and private burial will be at Maple Grove Cemetery in Wichita, KS. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Hugh S. Maxwell to the Association for Iron & Steel Technology ( AIST ), a non-profit international professional and technical association to benefit scholarships for future steel industry engineers. AIST Foundation 186 Thorn Hill Road Warrendale, PA 15086-7528