I had the opportunity to go into Mr. Greatbatch's lab when I was little, I played with his sons Warren and Johnny on occasion. Mr. Greatbatch always had time to explain what he was working on, even though I didn't have a clue what he was talking about. Success couldn't have come to a nicer man. Lynn Hartwig
I've enjoyed staying in touch with Clarence/WNY through your articles even though I currently live in Ohio. I grew up in Clarence and, in fact, lived just down the street from the Greatbatch's. I look forward to visiting the Museum the next time in I'm home.
Bill is a very interesting man and has has build an amazing legacy in the lives of many people around the world in many ways.
My first introduction to Bill was as a 5th grade Sunday school teacher in '61-'62 at the 1st Presby. Church next to the high school & Library on Main St. We had our class in the bell room on the 3rd floor. I remember He brought in a remote heart monitor set-up. We watched the monitor in the classroom, showing someone's heartbeat, as they walked around the parking lot. I would also be remiss if I didn't mention John 3:16 that he drilled into our young heads.
I spent many hours singing in the base section of the First presb. Church choir with Bill in the late '60s. He has a very distinct basso profondo voice.
My first introduction to electronics was after choir practice, from two electrical engineers who worked at the battery company he started after he sold his portion of the Mennen-Greatbatch company to Mennen. He had his engineers driving heavy construction equipment as they helped to build the "then new" building. I've worked in the Computer industry for over 35 years now, and still use that impromptu education.
He made trips behind the "Iron Curtain" to Poland (and Russia I think) to establish business relations. He once invited some of these people to Clarence and showed them around the town. This was unheard of in the '60's.
Bill is an amazing and caring man who I remember fondly. I'm glad that the Clarence historical society has honored him as they have.
I worked at Mennen-Greatbatch when they were located on the second floor of Dr. Tremont's pharmacy on Main Street, in Clarence, NY. I worked in Production Repair starting there just mere days after my discharge from the Air Force in July 1968. I worked for Dan Hinman and Joe LaCopa along with a high school friend of mine, Tommy Chmura. Other repair techs there were Paul Hufnagel and another Tom (last name forgotten). During my brief time there (just six months), we moved to 10123 Main Street into their new building. I remember the movers had to take out part of the first or second floor exterior wall to get the blueprint machine out just as Dr. Tremont arrived. That he blew a fuse seeing part of his building removed was an understatement. One of my highlights working there were external pacemaker modules that were failing QC for an unlinear output based upon the pacemaker's dial setting. I took apart three of the devices, checking every component and every wire, checked the printed circuit boards for proper construction - not one stone was left unturned, or so I thought. Mr Greatbatch owned acreage behind the new address, which he dubbed Claronics Park. He would dress up in bib overhauls and a wide-brimmed straw hat while driving around in his tractor. After giving up trying to find what was wrong with the pacemakers, I went out back and caught up with him, telling him of the problem. He brushed off the dust and came into the building and to my bench. He asked me what I did, nodded and picked up a module and said plainly that the silk screened the front panel wrong. Who would have thought! Lesson learned from an immensely great and warm-hearted man and genius! I left MG in February of '69 when I started working for Buffalo General Hospital as a Therapeutic Engineer as we were called back in the day before biomedical equipment technicians and biomedical or clinical engineers entered our lexicon. 15 years BGH followed by ten at Niagara Falls (NY) Memorial Medical Center comprised the best art of my working career. Tom Witkowski
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I had the opportunity to go into Mr. Greatbatch's lab when I was little, I played with his sons Warren and Johnny on occasion. Mr. Greatbatch always had time to explain what he was working on, even though I didn't have a clue what he was talking about. Success couldn't have come to a nicer man. Lynn Hartwig
ReplyDeleteAck!
ReplyDeleteI jumped too!!!
I've enjoyed staying in touch with Clarence/WNY through your articles even though I currently live in Ohio. I grew up in Clarence and, in fact, lived just down the street from the Greatbatch's. I look forward to visiting the Museum the next time in I'm home.
ReplyDeleteThanks Becky.
ReplyDeleteBill is a very interesting man and has has build an amazing legacy in the lives of many people around the world in many ways.
My first introduction to Bill was as a 5th grade Sunday school teacher in '61-'62 at the 1st Presby. Church next to the high school & Library on Main St. We had our class in the bell room on the 3rd floor. I remember He brought in a remote heart monitor set-up. We watched the monitor in the classroom, showing someone's heartbeat, as they walked around the parking lot. I would also be remiss if I didn't mention John 3:16 that he drilled into our young heads.
I spent many hours singing in the base section of the First presb. Church choir with Bill in the late '60s. He has a very distinct basso profondo voice.
My first introduction to electronics was after choir practice, from two electrical engineers who worked at the battery company he started after he sold his portion of the Mennen-Greatbatch company to Mennen.
He had his engineers driving heavy construction equipment as they helped to build the "then new" building. I've worked in the Computer industry for over 35 years now, and still use that impromptu education.
He made trips behind the "Iron Curtain" to Poland (and Russia I think) to establish business relations. He once invited some of these people to Clarence and showed them around the town. This was unheard of in the '60's.
Bill is an amazing and caring man who I remember fondly. I'm glad that the Clarence historical society has honored him as they have.
Rob Bartee (Clarence grad '69)
I worked at Mennen-Greatbatch when they were located on the second floor of Dr. Tremont's pharmacy on Main Street, in Clarence, NY. I worked in Production Repair starting there just mere days after my discharge from the Air Force in July 1968. I worked for Dan Hinman and Joe LaCopa along with a high school friend of mine, Tommy Chmura. Other repair techs there were Paul Hufnagel and another Tom (last name forgotten). During my brief time there (just six months), we moved to 10123 Main Street into their new building. I remember the movers had to take out part of the first or second floor exterior wall to get the blueprint machine out just as Dr. Tremont arrived. That he blew a fuse seeing part of his building removed was an understatement.
ReplyDeleteOne of my highlights working there were external pacemaker modules that were failing QC for an unlinear output based upon the pacemaker's dial setting. I took apart three of the devices, checking every component and every wire, checked the printed circuit boards for proper construction - not one stone was left unturned, or so I thought. Mr Greatbatch owned acreage behind the new address, which he dubbed Claronics Park. He would dress up in bib overhauls and a wide-brimmed straw hat while driving around in his tractor. After giving up trying to find what was wrong with the pacemakers, I went out back and caught up with him, telling him of the problem. He brushed off the dust and came into the building and to my bench. He asked me what I did, nodded and picked up a module and said plainly that the silk screened the front panel wrong. Who would have thought! Lesson learned from an immensely great and warm-hearted man and genius! I left MG in February of '69 when I started working for Buffalo General Hospital as a Therapeutic Engineer as we were called back in the day before biomedical equipment technicians and biomedical or clinical engineers entered our lexicon. 15 years BGH followed by ten at Niagara Falls (NY) Memorial Medical Center comprised the best art of my working career.
Tom Witkowski