Sidney Herbert Engel

Sidney Herbert Engel, age 92, died at Cokesbury Village, Hockessin, DE, his home since May 2011, on March 26, 2023.

Sid was born in 1930 in Bronx, NYC to Hermina and Max Engel. He was their only child. They were Hungarian speaking immigrants who met in NYC. Sid grew up in a one bedroom walk-up apartment. He slept in the living room on a roll-out cot that ultimately was not big enough for his 6’4” frame. He became a boy scout and especially relished the camping trips and leadership opportunities. Sid attended NYC schools including the Chemical Engineering program at CCNY. He graduated cum laude, second in his class, and was a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society and Sigma Chi Epsilon fraternity. He was admitted to Columbia University Engineering Graduate School with a research fellowship from the Atomic Energy Commission, and was granted membership in Phi Lambda Epsilon honorary fraternity.

While in graduate school, Sid worked one summer at DuPont’s textile fibers plant in Martinville, VA. In 1953, he began work at the Chambers Works in NJ. He moved from product to product and spent 4 ½ years in Louisville. He had several assignments in downtown Wilmington. However, most of his 36-year career was spent at Chambers Works. He reached the position of Site Manager for Polymer Products with over 300 people reporting to him. After retiring, he did part-time consulting for DuPont in the field of safety management.

In August of 1956, while on vacation with friends on Nantucket Island, Mass., he met Ethel Grau, a NYC kindergarten teacher. They became engaged on Dec. 30, 1956, and were married on June 30, 1957. Their love for each other never faded; it grew only stronger as the years passed.

While retired, Sid honed his love of photography and was active in the Delaware Photography Society. He became both a student and teacher at OLLI. Sid and Ethel took up ballroom and square dancing and played golf together. While they were raising their family, vacations were spent camping. Later, they went on cruises, toured Elderhostels, to resorts and countless inns, and on many interesting trips they planned themselves.

Sid was a member of Congregation Beth Emeth for 50 years, and was a member of its Brotherhood & Couples Club, and served on the Adult Education Committee and the Building Committee. He served on the Board of Directors of the Kutz Home. He and Ethel were co-presidents of the New Castle Cotillion and were members of the DuPont Country Club for many years. At Cokesbury Village, Sid helped at White Elephant sales, was on the Dance Committee, and was chairman of the Audio-Visual Committee for 8 years.

Sid is survived by his wife, Ethel, and 3 children: Laura (Anthony Ventura), John (Mary Allen, deceased), and James (Maureen Conley) and 4 grandchildren: Maxwell Ventura, Henry Ventura, Jeremy Engel, and Shannon Engel. He loved them all very much.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff of Willow Brook Court at Cokesbury Village who cared for Sid for almost 4 years. They also want to acknowledge the support received from so many caring residents of Cokesbury Village.

Contributions in Sid’s memory may be made to Cokesbury Village Residents’ Association (CVRA) at 726 Loveville Rd., Hockessin, DE 19707 or the charity of your choice.
William Shakespeare wrote: “His life was gentle and the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world ‘this was a man.’”