Albert Watrel

Dr. Albert Adam Watrel, 87, of Bismarck, N.D., passed away Monday at his home surrounded by family.

The North Dakota educator's journey to Bismarck began on Dec. 23, 1927, in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The son of the late John and Julia Rochabowski Watrel, Al graduated from East Rutherford (New Jersey) High School in 1946. Awarded an athletic scholarship for football from Syracuse University, he developed a passion for science.

Al earned his Bachelor of Science degree in bacteriology and Master of Science in education, and later a Ph.D. in biochemistry in 1961.

Al played football at Syracuse from 1946 to 1950 and was co-captain of the Orange Varsity Football team in 1950. In 1987, Al was honored by the Syracuse Varsity Club by being elected to the Syracuse Athletic Hall of Fame as Letterwinner of Distinction, the highest honor bestowed to a former athlete.

Al began his career in academia in 1951 as a professor at Cortland State Teachers College (SUNY-Cortland) in upstate New York, where he helped develop the Department of Chemistry and became its first chair.

In the fall of 1967, Al was awarded a Ford Foundation Fellowship Grant from the American Council of Education to study college administration and served as assistant to the president of San Jose State University.

In 1968, he became president of Slippery Rock University. In 1977, he became president of Dickinson State University in North Dakota. After 43 years of public service as an educator and administrator, he retired from DSU to Bismarck in 1994.

He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, the American Association of University Professors, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Science Teachers Association and American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

After retirement, Al was active in the Bismarck Rotary Club and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). He first joined Rotary in Pennsylvania in 1968. He served as president of the Dickinson Rotary Club from 1989 to 1990 and was district governor of District 5580 from 2002 to 2003. Al joined the Bismarck/Mandan SCORE Chapter in 1994 and became North Dakota SCORE district director.

Albert married his life partner of 58 years, Carole Ione Fabend, on June 30, 1956, in Nyack, N.Y. Together they raised a family and entertained many in the communities where they lived, promoting and highlighting academics and athletics at each institution.

Al's hobbies included gardening, stamp collecting, photography, rock hounding and being around nature. To no one's surprise, he also had a deep passion for football, with the DSU Blue Hawks, Syracuse University Orange and the Pittsburgh Steelers as favorites.

Albert is survived by his wife, Carole; his daughters, Jane (Matthew Herzberg) of Orlando, Fla., and Susan Watrel of Mishawaka, Ind.; his twin sons, Robert (Becca) Watrel of Brookings, S.D., and William (Jaime) Watrel of Arlington, Va.; his four grandchildren; and his sister, Delores (Don) Snyder of Westwood, N.J.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Nancy; his parents, John and Julia; and his brother, Warren.

Watrel — Visitation for Albert Adam Watrel, who passed away Monday, March 9, 2015, will be from 10 a.m. until the time of a memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church, 214 E. Thayer Ave., Bismarck, N.D., with the Rev. Marvin Mutzenberger officiating.Cremation has taken place. Albert will be interred in Cortland, N.Y., later this year next to his daughter, Nancy.Memorials may be given to the Albert A. Watrel Scholarship Fund at Dickinson State University, the Bismarck Rotary Club Foundation and St. Alexius Hospice.Arrangements are by the Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, N.D.Go to www.eastgatefuneral.com to share memories of Albert and sign the online guest book.

Dr. Albert Adam Watrel, 87, of Bismarck, N.D., passed away Monday at his home surrounded by family.The North Dakota educator’s journey to Bismarck began on Dec. 23, 1927, in Brooklyn, N.Y.The son of the late John and Julia Rochabowski Watrel, Al graduated from East Rutherford (New Jersey) High School in 1946. Awarded an athletic scholarship for football from Syracuse University, he developed a passion for science.Al earned his Bachelor of Science degree in bacteriology and Master of Science in education, and later a Ph.D. in biochemistry in 1961.Al played football at Syracuse from 1946 to 1950 and was co-captain of the Orange Varsity Football team in 1950. In 1987, Al was honored by the Syracuse Varsity Club by being elected to the Syracuse Athletic Hall of Fame as Letterwinner of Distinction, the highest honor bestowed to a former athlete.Al began his career in academia in 1951 as a professor at Cortland State Teachers College (SUNY-Cortland) in upstate New York, where he helped develop the Department of Chemistry and became its first chair.In the fall of 1967, Al was awarded a Ford Foundation Fellowship Grant from the American Council of Education to study college administration and served as assistant to the president of San Jose State University.In 1968, he became president of Slippery Rock University. In 1977, he became president of Dickinson State University in North Dakota. After 43 years of public service as an educator and administrator, he retired from DSU to Bismarck in 1994.He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, the American Association of University Professors, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Science Teachers Association and American Association of State Colleges and Universities.After retirement, Al was active in the Bismarck Rotary Club and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). He first joined Rotary in Pennsylvania in 1968. He served as president of the Dickinson Rotary Club from 1989 to 1990 and was district governor of District 5580 from 2002 to 2003. Al joined the Bismarck/Mandan SCORE Chapter in 1994 and became North Dakota SCORE district director.Albert married his life partner of 58 years, Carole Ione Fabend, on June 30, 1956, in Nyack, N.Y. Together they raised a family and entertained many in the communities where they lived, promoting and highlighting academics and athletics at each institution.Al’s hobbies included gardening, stamp collecting, photography, rock hounding and being around nature. To no one’s surprise, he also had a deep passion for football, with the DSU Blue Hawks, Syracuse University Orange and the Pittsburgh Steelers as favorites.Albert is survived by his wife, Carole; his daughters, Jane (Matthew Herzberg) of Orlando, Fla., and Susan Watrel of Mishawaka, Ind.; his twin sons, Robert (Becca) Watrel of Brookings, S.D., and William (Jaime) Watrel of Arlington, Va.; his four grandchildren; and his sister, Delores (Don) Snyder of Westwood, N.J.He was preceded in death by his daughter, Nancy; his parents, John and Julia; and his brother, Warren.Watrel — Visitation for Albert Adam Watrel, who passed away Monday, March 9, 2015, will be from 10 a.m. until the time of a memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church, 214 E. Thayer Ave., Bismarck, N.D., with the Rev. Marvin Mutzenberger officiating.Cremation has taken place. Albert will be interred in Cortland, N.Y., later this year next to his daughter, Nancy.Memorials may be given to the Albert A. Watrel Scholarship Fund at Dickinson State University, the Bismarck Rotary Club Foundation and St. Alexius Hospice.Arrangements are by the Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, N.D.Go to www.eastgatefuneral.com to share memories of Albert and sign the online guest book.Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.