Conrad Hering Knerr, 91, business executive

Conrad Hering Knerr, 91, of Blue Bell, an engineer, business executive, and entrepreneur, died Thursday, Jan. 21, at his home in Whitpain Farm of complications from a fall in September.

Born in Germantown, he was the son of Horace Calvin and Jean Reid Knerr and the great-grandson of Dr. Constantine Hering, founder of Hahnemann Hospital and the "father of homeopathy in America."

In November, Mr. Knerr was thrilled to be present for dedication of a state historical marker commemorating Dr. Hering's role in homeopathic medicine. The plaque is at the site of the older man's former office at 12th and Arch Streets.

Mr. Knerr graduated from Germantown High School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering with honors in 1948.

Mr. Knerr served in the Navy before emerging into the workforce to run Metlab Co., a firm founded in 1928 by his father, an expert in metallurgy.

Although Mr. Knerr sold the company in 1998, he retained ownership of the property in Glenside, and used it as headquarters of the Knerr Group, a real estate holding company that he founded and ran with his brother, Barry.

Mr. Knerr never retired; he enjoyed going to work at his office until shortly before his death.

Over the years, he taught classes in metallurgy at Temple University and Spring Garden College. He served as a consultant to heat-treatment firms and was president of the Metal Treating Institute, an industry advocacy group.

Mr. Knerr married Shirley Ketcham in 1951. The couple raised six daughters in an old farmhouse with a barn, which they restored. The two taught all their daughters to ski, starting at age 2. The family enjoyed skiing at Gore Mountain in New York State's Adirondacks.

His first wife, from whom he was divorced, died in 2005 at age 76.

In 1983, he married Susan Comstock Sawin, who brought four children to the marriage for a total of 10.

"Most of us had grown up and gone by the time they came along, but when we had the whole group there for Thanksgiving, that was pretty wild," said daughter Carrie O'Brien.

Mr. Knerr skied until age 84, when he took advantage of the indoor slopes at Dubai with his wife to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.

He also played tennis until age 90.

Raised in a Quaker household, Mr. Knerr was gentle, loving, and a good listener. "He always took others' viewpoints into consideration," his family said.

Besides his daughter and second wife, he is survived by daughters Andrea Havens, Anita Guevara, Marcie Bailey, and Sarah Inforzato; stepchildren Susan Hamilton and Edward, David and Gregory Sawin; 12 grandchildren and stepgrandchildren; two brothers; and many nephews and nieces.

A daughter, Linnea Knerr, and a sister died earlier.

A celebration of life will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, at St. Thomas' Church, Whitemarsh, Bethlehem Pike at Camp Hill Rd., Fort Washington. Interment is private.

Donations may be made to the Keystone Hospice, 8765 Stenton Ave., Wyndmoor, Pa. 19038, or Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels, 1710 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, Pa. 19031.

bcook@phillynews.com

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