Eugene C. Pressler Jr., ex-bank executive

Eugene C. Pressler Jr., 80, a retired bank executive and ham radio enthusiast, died of pneumonia Tuesday, Feb. 22, at Foulkeways, a retirement community in Gwynedd.

Mr. Pressler graduated from Collegeville-Trappe High School and three years ago helped organize his class' 60th reunion. He attended Ursinus College.

For several years, he worked for his father's firm, Pressler Employment Services in Philadelphia, before joining Continental Bank.

During his 20 years at Continental, he was manager of employee relations, assistant director of personnel, and director of human resources. For more than 15 years he edited the bank's employee magazine.

He also contributed articles to the Administrative Management Society's magazine, was an instructor at the American Institute of Banking, and spoke at Pennsylvania Bankers Association conferences.

After retiring in 1991, Mr. Pressler was a volunteer and chairman of the board of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Montgomery County. As a member, he consulted for nonprofits, and in 1998 he wrote a policy manual for the University City Science Center.

A ham radio operator since his teens, Mr. Pressler was past president of the North Penn and Delmont Radio Clubs and the Telford Area Repeater Association. He was assistant director of the American Radio Relay League and a cofounder of the Area Repeater Coordination Council. He wrote articles for amateur radio publications and a handbook for amateur radio operators.

Mr. Pressler had two daughters with his first wife, Patricia Farley Pressler. She died in 1959.

In 1981, he married Maripat Cope. They enjoyed travel and visited their favorite destination, Hawaii, five times.

After she died in 2009, Mr. Pressler moved from his longtime home in Maple Glen to Foulkeways. He was a former member of the board at Foulkeways, chaired the pension and personnel committee, and served on the executive and finance committee.

Mr. Pressler is survived by a daughter, Suzanne Roth; two brothers; a sister; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Daughter Margaret Visher died in 2007.

A life celebration will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 4, in the auditorium at Foulkeways, 1120 Meetinghouse Rd., Gwynedd. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 5, at First Presbyterian Church, 4 S. Ridge Ave., Ambler, where Mr. Pressler was an elder. Friends may call after 10.

Memorial donations may be made to the organ fund at First Presbyterian Church of Ambler, 4 S. Ridge Ave., Ambler, Pa. 19002.