Richard M. Spriggs of Alfred, N.Y., passed away Saturday, July 21, 2007, after battling lung cancer.


Spriggs was professor emeritus of ceramic engineering at the NYS
College of Ceramics at Alfred University. Prior to retiring in 1997, he
was the first John F. McMahon Professor of Ceramic Engineering, the
executive director of the NYS Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology,
and director of Sponsored Research Programs at the College. He held BS,
MS and PhD degrees in ceramics and ceramic engineering from The
Pennsylvania State University and the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign.


Prior to joining the Alfred faculty in 1987, he served as senior
staff officer and staff director of the National Research Council at
the National Academy of Sciences, and as professor and later as vice
president for administration at Lehigh University. He had earlier
industrial experience with Avco and Ferro corporations. He also served
as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy after his graduation from Penn State.


A Fellow, Past President, and Distinguished Life Member of the
American Ceramic Society, he received numerous honors and awards for
his contributions to ceramic science, technology and education. He most
recently served as a board member of the Ceramics Corridor Innovation
Centers (Alfred Technology Resources Inc.) and Sugar Hill Development
Corp. Spriggs was widely known over many years as an outstanding
ambassador for the American Ceramic Society. He was well-known for his
kind and friendly demeanor.


He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia (Blaney) Spriggs and
is survived by his present wife, Brenda (Ferrier) Spriggs, three
children: Carolyn (Spriggs) Muchna (Mark) of Prescott, Ariz., Rick
Spriggs (Jacki) of Naperville, Ill., and Alan Spriggs of Golden, Colo.;
and three step-children: Kristine (Milkeris) Smith (Robbie) of Genesee,
Pa., Lori Milkeris of Milton, Fla., and Joshua Milkeris (Amber) of Fort
Walton Beach, Fla.


In addition he is survived by seven grandchildren: Jessica (Muchna)
Madson (James), Amy, Matthew and Mollie Muchna, Mackenzie, Kelsey and
Conor Spriggs, and five step-grandchildren: Amber, Tyler, Miri and
Bryce Milkeris and Nolen Smith.

Memorial services will be held at the Union University Church in Alfred on Monday, August 13 at 11:00 a.m.

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