Deceased January 21, 1985
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In Memory
Tibor Polgar died on January 21, 1985, of a heart attack at the age of 41. His work and his life in general since Amherst were involved with the oceans and bays of the world. At the time of his death, he was the technical and scientific director for Martin Marietta’s environmental systems division in Columbia, Md.
Tibor was an expert on the effects of human activities in marine life in estuary areas and also on striped bass, particularly in Chesapeake Bay.
At Amherst, Tibor’s usually smiling countenance and cheerful disposition were a campus fixture. His outlook on life undoubtedly was influenced by his beginnings which featured birth in a Nazi work camp in Szolnok, Hungary, while his mother was an inmate. Tibor’s mother, Rose, who survives him along with his wife, Barbara, and Tibor lived in Budapest after release from the camp where they lived until moving to New York when he was 15.
After Amherst, Tibor obtained his master’s and doctorate from the Univ. of Rhode Island, and he then joined Martin Marietta. He was the founding chairman of the Hudson River Panel, a member of the Marine Programs Advisory Council to the URI president, and an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland. He was also a member of many, many marine review groups and coastal advisory commissions.
His classmates will miss him as we know his wife, mother, and professional friends all will.
Samuel Spencer ‘65