Howard E. Braun

BRAUN: Howard E. Braun of Oakland died Wednesday, February 18, 2015, at age 91. Howard was born in Simlol Sylvanie, Romania, and immigrated in 1930 to Brooklyn where he graduated from Boys’ High. He received a bachelor’s of science in engineering from Iowa State University, where he also played football. He served as an ensign in the U.S. Navy during World War II in both Atlantic and Pacific Theatres; his ship saw action in the Battles of the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf. He began his career at General Electric nuclear power division in Schenectady, N.Y., and later in San Jose, Calif. He was the inventor of record on many patents, including the control rod drive for the General Electric boiling water reactor. Howard lived in Pittsburgh since 1963, first in Squirrel Hill and later in Oakland, working as a nuclear engineer for Westinghouse. He designed and sold nuclear power plants in the United States, France, and Japan. He was a founding member and first president of Dor Hadash Congregation of Pittsburgh. He leaves this poem:

“My Elegy”

Life is the reward, we get it first

Now my fateful trip is ended

Content is the worker though not done

Paying back as wont and can

Stalled in career and out of time.

Yet happy with my share of reality

And glimpse of infinite that was, is and shall remain.

And family and integrity in this rewarding duty.

Now GOD’S PRESENCE, Earth and the sun and the rain.

Burial at Homewood Cemetery, Star of David section on Thursday, February 19 at 3:15 p.m. He is survived by wife of his 64 years, Dorothy F. Braun, and by his children: Steven Braun of Silver Spring, Md., married to Rachel Braun; Michele Braun of Scarsdale, N.Y., married to Norman Bernstein; and Janet Braun of Washington, D.C. He leaves grandchildren Aviva and her husband Justin, Eli and his wife Alyce, Hannan, Molly, Sarah-Judith, Louis, and Shira. Memorial contributions may be directed to the charity of donor’s choice.

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