Immediate past ASHRAE President Lynn G. Bellenger, who served as the first woman president in the Society’s 116-year history, died Wednesday. She was president of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers for the 2010-2011 year. Her term ended in June 2011.

According to ASHRAE, Ms. Bellenger 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 with Pathfinder Engineers & Architects in Rochester, N.Y.

“We at ASHRAE are greatly saddened by the death of our former president and our friend,” said ASHRAE President Ron Jarnagin. “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.”

ASHRAE officials said as president, Bellenger focused on the benefits of modeling and sustainability.

In an interview last year, Ms. 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.