SUWANEE, Ga. - Bill Seaton, 72, passed suddenly in late 2007. He served on the staff of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) from 1981 until his retirement in 2002 as the manager of research.

Seaton joined the staff in 1981 after the society had just completed the move of its headquarters from New York to Atlanta. He was the architect of the current research program, having overseen its growth and development during his term.

He also administered the graduate students’ grant-in-aid program, which awarded more than 300 grants at a value of more than $2 million. Seaton managed a number of special projects, most notably with the U.S. Department of Energy. After his retirement, he continued to serve on the Admissions and Advancement Committee.

At the request of his family and friends, an Endowed Research Fund has been set up in his name with the ASHRAE Foundation. All donations given in his name will be put into this special fund, generating a yearly contribution to ASHRAE Research into perpetuity, a lasting memorial to a person who made a lasting contribution to the society. According to ASHRAE, as of April 15, this fund only requires an additional $2,000 to become a yearly Honor Roll level contribution in Seaton’s memory.

Those interested may contribute online at www.ashrae.org/contribute. Please indicate that your gift is “in Memory of Bill Seaton.” Contributions also may be sent to Research Promotion’s temporary mailing address at ASHRAE Headquarters; Attn: Research Promotion, 4060 Peachtree Rd., Suite D, #125, Atlanta, GA 30319.

Publication date: 05/12/2008