Nathan Janco, age 95, founder, former owner and president of Centrifugal Casting Machine Company, passed away Friday, May 19, 2006. “Nat” was born September 9, 1910 in New York City to the late Simon and Sadie Janco. Nat’s father, Simon emigrated unaccompanied from Romania at a very young age. Nat graduated from P.S. 33, Evander Childs High School, in New York City and New York University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters Degree in Physics. Following graduation, Nat moved to Houston, TX where he worked for Reed Roller Bit and met and married his beautiful and beloved wife of 66 years, Reba Agnes Harris, of Tyler, TX. They moved to Tulsa, OK and Nat worked for Carter Oil Company. In 1940, he founded the internationally-renowned Centrifugal Casting Machine Company. Nat was universally acknowledged as a pioneer in the field of casting machine design and one of the foremost authorities on the subject of centrifugal casting. During WWII, Nat was the centrifugal casting expert on the U.S. War Metallurgy Committee. Nat held several U.S. patens and was the designer of numerous horizontal, vertical and face-plate machines, as well as special purpose machines for high production. Nat pioneered the centrifugal casting of plastics, magnesium sludge, uranium and titanium, in addition to centrifugal vacuum casting. He authored the book Centrifugal Casting and wrote articles which appeared frequently in the American Foundrymen’s Society’ Transactions. Being world travelers, Nat and Agnes visited more than 110 countries, often taking their sons and grandsons with them. Recently the University of Chicago named a travel award in their honor. Their grandson, Andrew, is pursuing his Doctoral degree in Russian history at the University. They have also endowed a scholarship program for engineering students at the University of Tulsa. Nat was a member of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, Tulsa Country Club, The Summit Club, Windycrest Sailing Club, Tulsa Tennis Club, Philbrook Museum of Art, Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa Philharmonic Society, Pi Tau Sigma Engineering Society, The National Foundry Society, Tulsa Opera Presidents Circle, the former Tulsa Club and a board member of the Tulsa Ballet Theater. Nat was an avid enthusiast of amateur (Ham) radio and recently received the 75 year Award by the Amateur Ham Club. In 1932, he founded the Ham Radio Club at New York University and his “Call Letters” are still in use. Nat was predeceased by his sister, Helen Janco of Long Island, NY; and first son, Steven Harris Janco of Tulsa. Nat is survived by his wife, Agnes Harris Janco of the home his son, Joel Stuart Janco of Key Largo, FL; Joel’s son, Andrew Paul Janco and his wife, Olga’ Joel’s wife, Kathy, children, Melissa and Eric; Nat’s grandsons, Steven Harris Janco Jr. and Fiancée, Margaret Ann James of Tulsa; Jay Robert Janco, his wife, Paige and their son, Luke Samuel Janco of Roswell, GA; and David Nathan Janco, and his fiancée, Mia Garcia-Suarez of Kansas City, MO; daughter-in law, Shirley Janco Hawkins, her husband, Charles Quantrell Hawkins and their son, Ross Allen Hawkins; brother, Maurice “Mike” Janco, and his wife , Florie, children, Faith, Mike and Seth Janco and their families, of Roselyn Heights, NY; his cousins, Maurice Janco of Santa Barbara, CA and Albert Janco of Oklahoma City, OK; Nat and Agnes’s nephew, Dr. Thomas Harris and his wife, Dr. Carolyn of Anahuac, TX; his grandnephew, Dr. Billy Harris and his wife, Sharon of Chattanooga, TN. A memorial service was held 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, 2006 at Moore Southlawn Chapel, 9350 E. 51st St, Tulsa, OK. Internment will be in Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Agnes and Nathan Janco Travel Award at the University of Chicago: (888) 824-4224 or the charity of your choice.
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