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Nancy Burr Deloye Fitzroy
Born
Nancy Burr Deloye

(1927-10-05)October 5, 1927
Died January 15, 2024(2024-01-15) (aged 96)
Nationality American
Education B.ChE.
Alma mater Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Occupation Engineering
Spouse(s) Roland Victor Fitzroy, Jr.

Nancy Burr Deloye Fitzroy (born October 5, 1927, died January 15, 2024) was an amazing American engineer. She was an expert in how heat moves and how liquids and gases flow. She was also one of the very first women to fly a helicopter!

Life as an Engineer

Nancy was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. She loved science and became the first girl to study chemical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She earned her degree in 1949.

Early Career and General Electric

In 1950, Nancy started working at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory. She was an assistant engineer, helping with how heat moves in different systems. In 1952, she joined General Electric, a big company.

At General Electric, she worked on the Hermes Missile Program. She also designed parts for nuclear reactor cores that dealt with heat. Nancy stayed with General Electric for 37 years! There, she met her future husband, Roland Victor Fitzroy, Jr., who was also an engineer. They got married in 1951.

Becoming a Heat Transfer Expert

Nancy became a special engineer in 1963, focusing on heat transfer. This means she studied how heat moves from one place to another. In 1965, she became a consultant, giving advice on heat transfer for things like gas turbines and space satellites.

Starting in 1970, she became the editor of important books called GE heat transfer and fluid flow data books. These books were full of useful information for engineers all over the world.

Leadership Roles and Retirement

In the 1970s, Nancy started taking on leadership jobs. She became a manager for heat transfer consulting in 1971. She also helped plan future projects for General Electric. From 1979 to 1982, she managed programs about energy and the environment.

Later, she worked as a consultant for gas turbines, nuclear energy, and space vehicles. In 1986, Nancy made history. She became the first female president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. This was a huge achievement, as it was the first time a woman led such a major engineering group in the country. She retired in 1987.

A Life of Adventure

Nancy was also one of the first women to fly a helicopter. She and her husband loved flying, sailing, and traveling the world.

To honor her amazing work, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers created a special award in 2011. It's called the Nancy DeLoye Fitzroy and Roland V. Fitzroy Medal. This medal is given to engineers who make big breakthroughs. Nancy even helped choose who received this award.

Nancy Fitzroy passed away in Schenectady, New York, on January 15, 2024. She was 96 years old.

Awards and Honors

Nancy Fitzroy received many awards for her important work:

  • Achievement Award, Society of Women Engineers (1972)
  • Demers Medal, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1975)
  • Davies Medal, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2014)
  • Centennial Medal, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (1980)
  • Federation of Professional Women Award (1984)
  • Honorary Fellow, Institution of Mechanical Engineers (1987)
  • Elected to the National Academy of Engineering (1996)
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Hall of Fame (1999)
  • Honorary Membership Award, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2008)
  • Honorary Doctorate in Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Honorary Doctor of Science Degree, New Jersey Institute of Technology
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