NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2008 – Mr. Robert A. Bennett, who passed away in March, will be honored by ASME. Bennett, who resided in Wantagh, N.Y., is being recognized for exemplary leadership in ASME including developing the first Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code for the state of Georgia; contributing to efforts which achieved recognition of several ASME Historic Landmarks; and dedication as a recruiter of youth to the engineering profession and ASME. He will posthumously be awarded Honorary Membership in ASME.
First awarded in 1880, the founding year of the Society, Honorary Membership recognizes a lifetime of service to engineering or related fields. Bennett’s award will be accepted by Regina Zyszkowski during the 2008 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, which is being held in Boston, Oct. 31 through Nov. 6.
Bennett was an innovative leader and successful engineer in the natural gas utilities industry, and an exemplary member of ASME.
Bennett began work at the Long Island Lighting Company (LILCO) in Hicksville, N.Y. in 1948. A well-known and highly respected expert in virtually all aspects of the natural gas industry, Bennett enhanced the reliability and security of the nation’s gas supply pipelines and regional distribution networks. He retired as manager of the gas supply and planning department in 1990 and was retained by the New York Power Pool as a special consultant to investigate the reliability and security of the gas supply used for electric power generation.
During his career Bennett was LILCO’s representative on various committees established by the Associated Gas Distributors, Gas Distribution Information Services, New York Gas Group and Northeast Gas Markets.
Prior to joining LILCO, Bennett served on active duty as a commander in the U.S. Naval Reserves from 1943 to 1947 (inactive duty 1947-73).
An ASME Fellow, Bennett joined the Society as a student in 1943. He was active in the Long Island Section and Hudson Region; and, for more than a decade, in the ASME Auxiliary including service as chair of the Rice-Cullimore Scholarship Committee. As Society secretary-treasurer for over 20 years, Bennett was instrumental in guiding ASME through a number of difficult financial challenges. He was a founding member of the ASME Foundation’s Archimedes Club, a group that recognizes Society members who have made legacy gifts to the ASME Foundation. In addition, Bennett was a trustee for the Staff Pension Plan Committee and an ASME representative to the Hoover Medal Award. His services were recognized with Council/Board of Governors and Section certificates, ASME’s Centennial Medal and Dedicated Service Award. He was a trusted adviser to many ASME presidents and several executive directors, and he gave unselfishly of his time and talents throughout his multifaceted ASME career. In so many ways he was the personification of the ideal professional society volunteer leader.
Bennett was affiliated with the American Gas Association, the Society of Gas Lighting, and both the National and New York State Society of Professional Engineers.
Bennett received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Cornell University (Ithaca, N.Y.) in 1946. He earned his master’s degree in mechanical engineering at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1955. He was a registered professional engineer in New York.
Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization promoting the art, science and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences. ASME develops codes and standards that enhance public safety, and provides lifelong learning and technical exchange opportunities benefiting the global engineering and technology community.
-#- | 
