George F. Pezdirtz

George F. Pezdirtz, 88, of Lake Barrington, passed away at home on May 25, 2022. He was born on July 11, 1933 in Omaha, NE to George and Helen Pezdirtz.

He held a Ph.D. from Notre Dame University and was Chief Chemist at NASA’s Langley Research Center where he developed the polymerized thermal coating for the Apollo spacecraft. In 1968 George was awarded the Arthur S. Flemming Award as one of the ten outstanding young men in federal government.

Later, as Director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Division of Energy Storage, he was Executive Committee Chairman of the International Energy Agency’s program on energy storage.

More recently, he established and directed a large research laboratory for Motorola. His scholarly articles on polymer chemistry and on energy storage are widely cited in these fields. In retirement, George became adept at sculpture and painting.

He is survived by his wife, Catherine, by four daughters: Kathryn Stokes, Sharon Johnson, Michele Cumming and Barbara McLendon, and by a stepson and daughter: Lincoln Davis and Karen Davis. His son, George III, is deceased, as are his two brothers, David and Rick. George was blessed with 11 grandchildren, one step-grandchild, and 11 great grandchildren.

A celebration of life and Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at Saint Anne Catholic Community, 120 Ela St.  (Corner of Franklin and Ela Sts.), Barrington, IL. Following the Mass, a memorial gathering and reception will be held at St. Paul United Church of Christ, 401 E. Main Street, Barrington. All are welcome.
Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Donate Online , or

Doulos Community, a Christian humanitarian organization, Donate Online