Lynn G. Bellenger
ATLANTA— Past ASHRAE President Lynn G. Bellenger, who served as the first woman president in the Society’s 116 year history, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011. She was president for the 2010-11 Society year, with her term ending in June 2011.
Bellenger, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, was a recognized expert in energy management, with a strong focus on the need for energy modeling to help create and refine more efficient buildings. She was a partner, Pathfinder Engineers & Architects, Rochester, N.Y.
“We at ASHRAE are greatly saddened by the death of our former president and our friend,” Ron Jarnagin, ASHRAE president, said. “Her lifelong passion for engineering excellence resonated within our membership and our industry, inspiring us through her belief that engineers will lead an energy revolution with innovation. Through her service, she showed that there is a path available to all who wish to extend the influence of engineering principles to better serve the world we live in.”
As ASHRAE president, Bellenger focused on Modeling a Sustainable World, sharing her thoughts about the role of modeling tools and how all involved in the built environment industry must come together to take advantage of “the rich opportunities for optimizing building performance through a collaborative approach from the beginning.” You can watch Lynn deliver her speech here. You may also read her presidential speech as it appeared in the August 2010 ASHRAE Journal here.
In an interview last year, Bellenger talked about her involvement in energy efficiency and how much has been put in recent years on the need to save energy.
“One of the cool things about the sustainability movement is that it has ignited a passion in people that is changing the world. That passion has brought a sense of energy and excitement to the industry and attracted people who are committed to designing and operating sustainable buildings. I don’t see that changing in the future,” she said.
To honor the remarkable legacy that she leaves, ASHRAE announced on Friday the creation of the Lynn G. Bellenger Memorial Fund, which will be used to recognize women in engineering through scholarships or other means. Please click here if you would like to donate. Otherwise, contributions can be mailed to Lynn G. Bellenger Memorial Fund c/o ASHRAE 1791 Tullie Cir. NE Atlanta, GA 30329.
Bellenger was a recipient of an ASHRAE Exceptional Service Award, a Distinguished Service Award, two first-place ASHRAE Technology Awards and the Lincoln Bouillon Membership Award.
She received a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Principia College and a Master of Science in environmental science from Rutgers University.
If you would like to send your condolences please email publicrelations@ashrae.org. Messages will be assembled into a remembrance for the Bellenger family.
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