ASHRAE Insights

LOVELAND, Ohio—Presidential Member Neil Patterson, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, died June 9, 2007, at Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati.

During his 1993–94 presidential year, Patterson emphasized the professional growth of individuals through their participation in the Society in his theme, ASHRAE: The Bridge to Professional Growth. He challenged the Society to increase membership, provide timely transfer of technical information to members and the industry and to further develop the leadership skills of active members in the Society.

As president, he launched membership promotion and retention programs and helped provide enhanced educational programs, publications and research through establishment of the ASHRAE Foundation. He also was president when ASHRAE first published Standard 90 in enforceable code language, providing a way for states to adopt the required technical provisions of ASHRAE’s energy standard into their building codes quickly and easily.

Patterson’s other ASHRAE service on some 35 technical and standards committees included chair of the Standards Project Committee 100.4 for energy conservation in existing industrial facilities, and a member of the committee that developed ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90A-1990, Energy Conservation in New Building Design.

He also served on the Board of Directors as president-elect, treasurer, two terms as vice president and a director-at-large. Patterson helped create the La Crosse Chapter, serving as president in 1972–73.

Professionally, he was employed by the Trane Co. for more than 40 years, holding several positions including corporate director of market development and product planning.

He was a recipient of the Society’s Distinguished Service Award.