| John E. Tarka, founding chair of Department of Electrical Engineering in Temple’s College of Engineering Technology, the predecessor of today’s College of Engineering, passed away suddenly on April 18.
He was 66 and lived in Huntingdon Valley, Pa.
Tarka, who earned his bachelor’s degree from Drexel University and his master’s and doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, served on the electrical and computer engineering faculty at Temple from 1970 until 2001.
“Many of us among the current faculty, as well as his former students, remember Professor Tarka as a fine colleague and a devoted teacher,” said Electrical and Computer Engineering Acting Chair Saroj Biswas.
According to Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Dennis Silage, who was first hired by Tarka as an adjunct faculty member in 1977, Tarka was charged with the development of academic programs and the recruitment of doctoral faculty, which lead to accreditation of the engineering programs during the formative years of the college.
“It is always sad at the passing of a colleague, and especially when it is someone who was instrumental in my being able to teach at Temple,” added Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Robert Yantorno, who was also hired by Tarka in 1982.
“For that I will always be in John’s debt.”
Tarka is survived by his wife, Carole; his children Lynne, Elizabeth, Jennifer, Jacqueline and Christopher; and 13 grandchildren.
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