Harold Boyd Elsasser

On Monday, November 3, 2025, Harold Boyd Elsasser passed away peacefully with his wife of 67 years, Sandra Gale Elsasser by his side. It was his 92nd birthday. In addition to his wife, Sandra, Harold is survived by a large, loving family. He was the  Beloved father of Dr. Gretchen Gale Elsasser Medich (Dr. David Stanley Medich) of Sewickley, PA, Mary-Ruth Elsasser Keough (Kevin Bradford Keough) of Aubrey, TX, Nancy Elizabeth Elsasser Keiser of Mt. Lebanon, PA, Tricia Hartley Elsasser Berger (Kenneth Berger) of Rancho Santa Fe, CA and his late infant son Erik Albert Elsasser; loving grandfather of Nicholas George Medich, John Harold Medich, Anne Gale Medich, Victoria Alina Medich, Dr. Kate Ann Keough, Shauna Marie Keiser, Christina Marie Keiser, Steven Nicholas Keiser, David Michael Keiser, Elizabeth Therese Keiser, Daniel James Keiser and Rose Catherine Keiser, Karaline Hartley Berger, Olivia Gale Berger Emsley (Scott Emsley), and Ken Tobin Berger; dear brother of Katherine Elsasser Worthington, of Taylors, SC.

Harold was born November 3, 1933, in the town of Mt, Pleasant, NY. He grew up with his parents, the late Albert Rudolph and Mary Boyd Elsasser in Princeton, New Jersey, where he attended Princeton Country Day School through the eighth grade. He attended Phillip Exeter Academy for one year of secondary school and finished and graduated from The Lawrenceville School, NJ, class of 1951. During his time there, Harold played on the soccer, lacrosse and field hockey teams. He attended Princeton University and graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. During his time at Princeton, Harold was enrolled in the ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps). After graduation Harold entered the United States Navy, reporting for active duty on the destroyer escort USS Snowden, June 1955.

In 1956 Harold met Sandra while she was studying nursing at Boston College, MA, and his ship was in dry dock at the Boston Navy Yard. Harold proposed to Sandra when he was on leave from NATO exercises in the North Atlantic, Christmas Eve of 1957. They married on April 12, 1958, at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Harold and Sandra were deeply committed to each other; their marriage is a shining example of a true partnership and great love story.

In 1958 Harold started his first job with Crows, Steers and Shepherd, in Greenland. In June 1959, Lt. Harold B Elsasser transitioned to the US Navy Reserves where he served until his resignation and honorable discharge October 1967.

In May 1959, Harold began a long, successful and prestigious career as an engineer and manager with American Bridge Division of the USX Corporation which continued through December 1986 when USX dissolved their American Bridge Division. At that time, Harold helped negotiate the transfer of outstanding work, and associated personnel to other companies; this is what led to his employment as Chief Engineer with Tensor, Inc., through December 1990. Harold continued his career as Sr. Structural Engineer; Civil Engineering Manager at WEC Engineers, Inc., 1991-1995. He then moved onto work for the Port Authority of Allegheny County as Engineering Manager until retirement. During his lengthy career, Harold achieved his Professional Engineer certification in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Georgia, West Virginia and Ohio. He also belonged to multiple professional organizations: National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE)American Welding Society, (AWS) and Association for Bridge Construction and Design (ABCD).

In 1964, Harold wrote the detailed formulations and generalized computer program which was used by American Bridge of USS for the construction calculations on every suspension bridge built by the division. This was following the construction of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge in New York for which he performed significant engineering work including the cable calculations.

During his career, Harold became a leading expert on suspension bridges and was consulted on many designs across the USA. He was a key engineer on the American Bridge team is responsible for erecting the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia, a famous and historic bridge in the USA. Upon its completion in 1977 it became the longest single span arch bridge in the world as well as the world’s highest bridge carrying a regular roadway.

Harold was an intelligent, hard-working and dedicated engineer. He had a gentle, deliberate way of instilling those values in his children and grandchildren. His daughters have fond memories of going into the American Bridge engineering offices with him where he was working on computer programing projects. The memories of being allowed to use the ‘high-tech’ key-punch card machine give them joy to this day. He often said, “If a job is worth doing, it is worth doing right.” He raised his four daughters to understand that there was no such thing as ‘men’s work’ or ‘women’s work’, there was simply work to be done. He did almost all repairs around the house himself and the children would often assist. He enjoyed mentoring and teaching skills to his children and continued to do so with his grandchildren.

Harold also held a strong appreciation for the value of education. Being the son of two teachers, he believed that education was key to being self-sufficient and independent. He was committed to his daughters receiving a college education; a commitment he fulfilled with his time, money and presence. He went on to insure the same for his grandchildren.

Harold was a man of strong faith. He sang in the choir as a member of the United Presbyterian Church for well over 50 years. His wife, Sandra, was a devout Catholic. Harold made the decision to enter the Roman Catholic Church and was confirmed November 2018. He chose Joseph (patron saint of engineer) as his Confirmation name.

Harold was a man of strong moral character and faith. He was loving and generous with his family and committed to their well-being and future. He had a deep sense of patriotism. Harold valued Faith, Family and Country; he held true to these convictions and commitments his entire life. He often reminded us that each day is “another day in which to excel.” Harold will live on in our memories and our lives as a blessed example of a life well lived and well loved.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anne Church, Saint Paul of the Cross Parish, in Castle Shannon, on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. (Very fitting, Veterans Day!) Interment will be private to the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St Vincent DePaul Society- Saint Anne Church Conference: Saint Paul of the Cross Parish, 400 Hoodridge Drive, Castle Shannon, PA 15234, or Masses may be said for Harold Elsasser.

www.laughlinfuneralhome.com