Gerald D. Rork, 66, of Sleepy Hollow, died September 21, 2000, in Elgin. The family held a private life celebration. Born in Minnesota, a Navy veteran, he graduated from U of Minn. where he also did graduate work in Physics and Electrical Engineering. In 1959, at Honeywell Corporate Research Center, his scientific work involved Gaseous Electronics, Vacuum Physics, and Smoke Detection. In 1977, he joined Fyrnetics Inc. in Elgin as Research Director. In 1978, he became BRK Electronics Research Director in Aurora, where he continued his design work on smoke detectors. In 1984, he became an Independent Consultant specializing in fire detection litigation and radiation protection. He was International Convener and US Delegate to the International Standards Organization for ‘Fire Detection and Alarm Systems’. Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Barbara; son Kenton of Chicago; daughter Rondi; son-in-law Mark Hyde and grandson Maxwell Rork Hyde of Wisconsin and three sisters, Patricia Lindgren of Washington, Judith Fust, and Janet Caldwell of Minnesota. As in life, he donated his body to science.
