Otto Sardi

Dr. Otto Sardi, 71, of Columbia, passed away peacefully on February 26, 2004 at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. He was born September 4, 1932 in Hungary to Maria and Istvan Sardi. He immigrated to the United States in 1956 during the Hungarian Revolution. He held a Diploma from the Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary, a Master's degree in Geology from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio and a Doctorate from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana in Mineralogy and Crystallography. Dr. Sardi was one of he first scientists to evaluate the lunar rock samples returned from the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. He was a university professor for 30 years, teaching at the University of Dayton, Cornell University and Eastern Connecticut State University from which he retired in 1997. He held two patents in High Temperature Ceramics and has numerous publications to his credit. He thoroughly enjoyed collecting rocks and minerals. In his younger years he played soccer and was a sports fan all his life. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He cared deeply about his family and was always very supportive. He was an intelligent man who was passionate about his work and was a great mentor to his children and students. He will be greatly missed. In addition to his wife of 39 years, Henriette, he is survived by three daughters and two sons-in-law, Monica and Patrick McCluskey, of Ellicott City, MD, Nancy and Clifford Ferguson of Manchester, Sylvia Sardi of West Haven, three grandchildren, Megan McCluskey, Stefany and Christopher Ferguson. His family will receive friends at the Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St., Rte. 195, Willimantic on Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. There will be a gathering at the funeral home on Monday at 10:00 a.m. prior to the procession to his Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. at St. Columba Church, jct. Rte. 87 and Rte.66, Columbia. Burial will follow in the Center Cemetery, Columbia. Please visit www.potterfh.com for directions and online memorial guestbook.