R.E. Llorens, engineer, professor

Richard E. Llorens, 79, of Northeast Philadelphia, a retired professor of engineering and mechanical science at Pennsylvania State University, died of a stroke Monday at Abington Memorial Hospital.

In 1965, Dr. Llorens joined the founding faculty of the Penn State School of Graduate Professional Studies, which had opened in a rented school building in King of Prussia.

The mission of the new venture was to address the market needs of Southeastern Pennsylvania through advanced education, offering several degree programs, including engineering, as well as professional development courses.

Dr. Llorens was acting dean of the school when its Great Valley campus in Malvern opened in 1989. He retired the next year.

From 1967 to 1997, Dr. Llorens also was a consulting engineer with the Naval Air Development Center in Warminster. He instituted a cooperative relationship between the center and Penn State, and he and other faculty conducted classes for Navy personnel.

Dr. Llorens wrote numerous articles published in academic journals. His paper "Scaled Similarity Solutions" is awaiting publication in the Journal of Applied Mechanics, his daughter Nina Llorens-Persons said.

Dr. Llorens' father, a Spanish immigrant who worked in a sugar refinery, strongly encouraged his only son's academic pursuits.

"He didn't want him to have to earn a living with his back," Llorens-Persons said.

After graduating from Northeast High School, Dr. Llorens earned a bachelor's degree from Drexel University. He earned a master's degree and a doctorate in engineering science from Penn State. He taught at Drexel University before joining the Penn State faculty.

Dr. Llorens was a member of several professional societies, including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Franklin Institute, and the American Society for Engineering Education.

When his son, Richard, was growing up, Dr. Llorens was active with Boy Scout Troop 695 in Huntingdon Valley. He also enjoyed visits to his ancestral home in Spain, history, sports - especially the Phillies - and spending time with his grandchildren.

In addition to his daughter and son, Dr. Llorens is survived by his wife of 52 years, Rosita Calzada Llorens; daughters Alena Llorens-Myers and Elissa; and nine grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. today at St. Albert the Great Church, 212 Welsh Rd., Huntingdon Valley. A viewing will be from 9 a.m. Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheltenham. Friends are encouraged to wear blue and white - Penn State colors - to the service.

Donations may be made to "Memorial Gift in Honor of Richard E. Llorens," for a graduate student scholarship, Pennsylvania State University College of Engineering Development Office, Hammond Building, State College, Pa. 16802.