Obituary of William F. Bracht
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of William Bracht, a beloved father, grandfather, and esteemed chemical engineer, who left us on September 22, 2024, after a courageous battle with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
He is survived by his wife Carol, son Bill (Babette), daughter Laurie (Gordon), and grandchildren Garrett, Jessica, Katie, Brendan, and Alexis - who will forever hold his memory in their hearts.
Born on May 26, 1939, William dedicated his life to the field of chemical engineering, earning a Master’s degree at Purdue University and making significant contributions during his tenure at Eastman Kodak Company, including mixing and filling equipment for the development of agents for film on paper, as well as instant film development pods. His innovative spirit and unwavering commitment to excellence earned him the respect of colleagues and peers alike, and he was often affectionately referred to as a “human Google” by all his family for his vast knowledge and ability to solve complex problems with remarkable ease and answer any question you might have in any subject matter.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Bill was a devoted family man. He instilled in his children the values of curiosity, perseverance, honesty, integrity and kindness. His passion for learning and sharing knowledge was a guiding light in our lives, and he had an extraordinary talent for making even the most complicated subjects understandable and enjoyable.
Bill had a deep love for genealogy, was an avid rock and mineral collector, camera and film collector, enjoyed painting, making a telescope and television from kits, making furniture, completing home improvements, and compiled a huge family archive of Kodak slides and photos spanning over the years. He had an extensive library collection of classics, encyclopedias and his beloved National Geographic magazines. He cherished every moment spent with family and friends. His dry sense of humor, incredible wisdom, and kind gentle spirit will be profoundly missed.
In honor of Bill’s life and legacy, in lieu of flowers, we invite you to donate to http://www.alzheimersprevention.org/donate . A private family service will be held at his final resting place at White Haven Memorial Park Cemetery in Pittsford, New York.
Though Bill has departed from this world, his impact will endure in the lives he touched and the lessons he imparted. May he rest in peace.