LAS VEGAS -- Norbert Socolowski, longtime Alpha Metals chemist and inventor, died Feb. 15 in Las Vegas. He was 85.

Socolowski was the first president of the SMTA, and received that organization's Founder's Award in 1998. He was a key member and former chairmen of numerous industry standards task groups, including ones for solder and flux.

Funeral services will be held April 14 at the Parsippany, NJ, Presbyterian Church.

During his career at Fry Metals and later, Alpha, Socolowski was granted patents for thermoelectric coolers and solder preforms. He was a member of the Surface Mount Council, IPC, SMTA and a variety of other organizations. He authored dozens of papers, and contributed heavily to a number of industry standards, including IPC-S-815, J-STD-004, J-STD-005, and J-STD-006.

Since his retirement, Socolowski maintained homes in New Jersey and Nevada. He had Parkinson’s disease and diabetes. He is survived by his wife, Jean.

The family asks donations in his memory be made to SMTA's Charles Hutchins Educational Grant.

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