Mt. Lebanon resident Bernard Queneau, 102, dies
Mt. Lebanon resident Bernard “Bernie” Queneau, 102, died Sunday, Dec. 8, one day after being honored as the nation’s oldest Eagle Scout.
“He lived a life of service and accomplishment,” said Georgianne Williams, director of volunteers at St. Clair Hospital, where Queneau volunteered for a number of years before stepping down in 2009.
“He was very outgoing, very astute, kind and compassionate,” Williams said.
Queneau was born in Belgium in 1912. He went on to earn degrees in engineering and metallurgical engineering from Columbia University, as well as a doctorate in metallurgical engineering from the University of Minnesota.
He joined the Navy and was part of an engineering team who went to Germany toward the end of World War II to study technology developed by the Nazis. Following his military service, Queneau went to work for U.S. Steel in various positions before becoming general manager in charge of quality assurance in Pittsburgh. He retired from the steel maker in 1977.
His retirement years were anything, but quiet. Queneau spent a number of years doing volunteer work at St. Clair Hospital, where he assisted wheelchair-bound patients. He also did volunteer work for Meals on Wheels and the Mt. Lebanon Public Library.
“People liked him,” Williams said. “He was very witty. He attributed his longevity to good genes, being a life-long learner and having a good woman behind him.” Queneau’s wife, Esther, survives.
Queneau received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award Saturday from the Boy Scouts of America. The award was established in 1969 and honors people who have been Eagle Scouts for 25 years and have also had outstanding career achievements. Past recipients include Neil Armstrong and director Stephen Spielberg.