JACKSON, N.J. – Dr. William Robert “Bill” Opie, 93, passed away Thursday morning, May 23, 2013, at home. Formerly a resident of Holmdel, N.J., and Hampden, Bill was born in Butte, Mont.
He graduated from Butte High School and entered Montana School of Mines in the fall of 1938. He worked as a miner to pay his school fees and help with expenses at home. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in metallurgy in 1942 he went on to receive a Master of Science from Stevens Institute and his Doctor of Science degree in metallurgy from Massachusetts Institute of Technology – MIT, in 1949. A U.S. Navy veteran, Bill worked as a research metallurgist for American Smelting and Refining and joined National Lead Co. in 1950 as research supervisor. While at National Lead, he focused on extractive metallurgy and materials processing. In 1960, he joined the Amax Base Metals group as senior vice president and technical director, and rose to president of Amax Base Metals Research and Development in 1971, a position he held until his retirement in 1985. At Amax, Opie worked with copper and other non-ferrous metals and continued to publish his findings on the research he was doing. Opie had published more than 30 articles and received more than 20 U.S. and international patents for his work in titanium, zinc and aluminum alloys. His patents and work had far-reaching impacts both in the minerals and mining field, as well as practical application in other fields work with such as alloys for medical implants for joint replacement and his work is used in the nuclear field. Dr. Opie has received numerous awards and accolades for his work. He received an honorary masters of metallurgical engineering from Montana School of Mines in 1962 and an honorary doctorate from Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology in 1980. He was a fellow of both ASM and TMS A.I.M.E., and in 1982, he was inducted into National Academy of Engineering He has served as treasurer of The Metallurgical Society, chairman of Extractive, Metallurgy Division of A.I.M.E., chairman of the Technical Committee, International Copper Research Association, and chairman of Germanium Research Committee. Bill was also active in his community serving on various boards including Holmdel Cemetery Board and Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust.
Bill was predeceased by his parents, Ellison and Myrtle Opie; and sister, Betty. Bill is survived by his wife of 68 years, Constance Kickuth Opie; daughter, Lyle Margaret and husband, Ralph Sturmfels; son, Guy William Opie and wife, NancyOpie; four grandchildren, Blythe Schell and husband, Edward, Corey Sturmfels and wife, Filomena, Kim Sturmfels-Hall and husband, Robert, and Tiffany Stevenson and husband, Bill; stepgrandson, Shean; and eight great-grandchildren.
A memorial service followed by interment was held Tuesday, May 28, at Holmdel Cemetery, Holmdel, N.J. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Clean Water Fund, www.cleanwaterfund.org; or Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust, www.greatpondmountain.org.
Dr. William Robert ‘Bill’ Opie
