Kenneth R. Strong ’54

Ken died Dec. 26, 2018.

After graduating from St. Paul’s School in Garden City, N.Y., he attended Princeton for two years, where he joined Key and Seal Club and played on the baseball team. He later attended Ohio State University and earned a degree in electronic engineering. In 1953, Ken married Doris Hertlein.

Ken served in the Army as a first lieutenant and instructor at West Point. Upon discharge, Ken began his professional career working for IBM in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. In 1959 Ken and Doris moved to West Hills, Calif., where he established a distinguished, productive career in the aerospace industry at Ramo Wooldridge, Hughes Aircraft Corp., and later Ampex Corp., where he worked for 21 years. Doris passed in 1988. Ken retired in 1989.

After retiring, Ken moved to Penn Valley, Calif., where he met Nelda Zieman. They were married in 1997.

Ken’s hobbies and interests included sports, music, boating, RVing, motorcycling, and classic automobiles. He was affiliated with the NFL Alumni Association, the Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, and the Buick Club of America.

Ken is survived by his wife, Nelda; his son, Ken Strong III; daughters Susan Strong and Lynn Gray; Nelda’s children, Brad and Mike Zieman and Shelly Andersen; grandchildren Jennifer (Lloyd) Barks and Daniel Gray; and great-grandchildren Addy, Kaylee, and CJ Barks.