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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Passing of Retired Professor Frank Kinsman, Mechanical Technology


MCC recently learned of the passing of Frank Kinsman, retired professor in the Mechanical Technology Department, on December 26, 2016.

After a successful career as a licensed engineer in the private sector and a self-employed consultant, Dr. Kinsman was hired as a professor in 1963 to establish MCC’s mechanical technology program.

His accomplishments over the next several years -- including creating and enhancing curricula, recruiting faculty, securing classroom/lab equipment and developing a work-study program with a local employer – eventually elevated MCC’s standing locally and nationally in the area of mechanical technology.

His commitment to students and the college over the decades drew praise from many of his colleagues and alumni, including two faculty members who had this to say about him in 1981:

“Having personally tailored the entire curriculum, Doctor Kinsman has progressively improved, expanded and updated his lectures into which presently represent the finest and most up-to-date teaching methods to be found. Possessing a vast knowledge of machine design and the natural sciences, Doctor Kinsman successfully relates these with practical experience into meaningful and educational lectures which I have found to be unsurpassed in quality and effectiveness. Without the support and guidance of Doctor Kinsman, the mechanical technology program at MCC would not enjoy the terrific reputation for excellence as it does today.”

“He is constantly reviewing new texts, magazines, books, and journals in order to bring up-to-date information, knowledge and techniques into the classroom. He is also constantly called upon by industry as a consultant and is intimately involved in current manufacturing processes. It is through this exposure to industry and manufacturing that Dr. Kinsman relates the practical applied aspects of mechanical technology. As a result, he enables his students to grasp the relevancy of various technical subjects and gain a working knowledge of the same.”

“Doc,” as his students liked to call him, had a knack for explaining the most complicated mechanical principles on a level students can understand. He was often seen wheeling transmissions and engines into the classroom to enhance his lectures. His office door was always open to students, and he was able to assist them in not only mechanical technology courses but also math and physics. His dedication to students was well known and respected.

“Mr. Kinsman knows all the things that he teaches well. He shows the real life way things work. The best teacher I have had,” one student wrote in a letter in 1981.

Beyond the walls of MCC, Dr. Kinsman opened his home to students in need of personal support and for many years, hosted an annual picnic for his students at his cabin on Keuka Lake.

In 1983, he was awarded MCC Distinguished Professor for Excellence in Teaching. In addition to teaching, he also served as the department chair from time to time throughout his 29-year tenure. Following his retirement in 1992, he was accorded the rank of professor emeritus.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Betty; five children; and 14 grandchildren.

According to his obituary <https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/democratandchronicle/obituary.aspx?n=frank-william-kinsman&pid=183251224>  published in the Democrat and Chronicle, there will be no calling hours or public service. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the Finger Lakes Museum and Aquarium, P.O. Box 96, Keuka Park, NY 14478 or <https://www.fingerlakesmuseum.org/> .

Anne M. Kress
Office of the President
01/06/2017