Stephen Joseph Metro

Stephen Joseph Metro, of Southern Pines, died Friday, July 22, 2011 at his home at Pine Knoll.
A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 29, at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, in Pinehurst. The rite of committal will be held at the Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, N.J., at a later date.
He was born Nov. 23, 1919, in Lebanon, Pa., to the late Stephen G. Metro and Elizabeth Andrassy. He graduated from Lebanon Catholic High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Lebanon Valley College, a Master’s degree in chemistry from Lehigh University, and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Upon graduation, Dr. Metro was hired by Esso Research and Engineering Co. (now Exxon Research and Engineering Co.) in Linden, N.J. He spent 34 years in the products division doing research and technical administration in synthetic aviation lubricants.
As project head, he was responsible for developing a line of synthetic lubes for turbo jet engines that are used world-wide. He held 36 patents concerning jet engine lubrication.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1946 as a laboratory technician, bacteriologist and in hospital administration.
He was a member of the American Chemical Society for 63 years and a member of the Honorary Scientific Society, Sigma XI. He was a past president of the Exxon Mobil retiree club in central North Carolina.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, a former member of the English-Speaking Union, and enjoyed attending the North Carolina Symphony concerts.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy Hughes Metro. He is survived by his three daughters, Elaine Metro-Fisher, of Clinton, N.J., Barbara Metro, of Belmar, N.J., and Allison Metro-Pitsker, of Hacketts-town, N.J.; his wife of 32 years, June Blake Metro; a niece, Teresa Donley, of Parrish, Fla.; a grand-nephew, Kris Donley, of Parrish; two stepsons, Paul Blake, of Centerville, Va., and Alan Blake, of Stockholm, N.J.; and six step-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to FirstHealth Hospice, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374. Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com.
Boles Funeral Home and Crematory of Southern Pines is serving the family.