Obituary of Donald B. Aulenbach

Donald B. Aulenbach, 89, of Clifton Park, New York, beloved husband of Marie Wertz Aulenbach, died August 19, 2017 at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, N.Y.

Donald was born in Berwick, PA., the second son of the late Henry and Mildred Schlasman. His older brother Richard predeceased him. Donald graduated from Franklin and Marshall College, and continued his education at Rutgers University, earning his PHD in Environmental Engineering. After working as a chemist / bacteriologist for the Delaware Water Pollution Commission, Donald began his thirty-year teaching career in 1960 as a Professor of Environmental Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y.  At R.P.I., he authored numerous articles on environmental engineering, led annual investigative trips with his engineering students to Lake George, and was a consultant on many projects, including a two month stay in China assisting that country on waste-water disposal facilities. He was a Professional Engineer and a member of the American Chemical Society, the Water Pollution Control Association, the American Water Works Association, the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, and the American Academy of Environmental Engineers.

Donald loved his family and he organized biannual get-togethers with his four children and their families at diverse locations throughout the United States. Donald was also passionate about education and music. In addition to nurturing environmental engineers at R.P.I., Donald served as a regional coordinator of the New York State Mathcounts, a yearly math competition for middle school students. He played bass in a band well into his eighties and he sang weekly in the choir at Christ Community Reformed Church.

He is survived by Marie, his wife of 65 years, and four children: Louise Trakimas and her husband Robert, of Winchester, Massachusetts; Bruce Aulenbach and his wife Sole, of Monroe, Oregon; Nancy Baker and her husband James, of Highland, California, and Brent Aulenbach and his wife Nancy, of Lilburn, Georgia. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are private. There will be a memorial service at Christ Community Reformed Church on October 28, 2017 at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Donald B. Aulenbach may be made to FEE-Capital District Mathcounts, Foundation for Engineering Education (FEE), 6 Airline Dr., Suite 114, Albany, N.Y. 12205, or to the Christ Community Reformed Church, 1010 Route 146, Clifton Park, NY 12065.