SAMPE North America mourns longtime leader, industry icon, George Epstein

The Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering (SAMPE, Diamond Bar, Calif., U.S.) North America is saddened to share that George Epstein passed away on March 29, 2022. Epstein was a giant in the composites industry, a SAMPE Lubin Award recipient (’96), SAMPE Fellow, SAMPE-LA vice chairman and board member. He established the Irene Epstein Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of his late wife and was passionate about assisting first-generation students going to college who major in STEM.

“The story of SAMPE would not have been written without Mr. Epstein and cannot be told without sharing his legacy,” SAMPE North America CEO, Zane Clark, says. “Mr. Epstein’s passing is a great loss to the SAMPE community and the industry he so loyally served. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”

As a graduate student/research fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), George Epstein studied the effects of elevated temperature on structural adhesives. Later at North American Aviation (Los Angeles, Calif., U.S.), he developed what is reported to be the first high-temperature structural adhesives. This technology is used today in film adhesives in aircraft and space systems. Among his many pioneering achievements, Epstein’s 1954 book, “Adhesive Bonding of Metals,” was the first on structural adhesives. 

George’s funeral service and burial is being held today, April 1 at 12:00 PST at Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 W. Centinela Ave. in Los Angeles (310-641-0707). It will be live streamed for those unable to attend (and will be available long afterward).

In lieu of flowers, please consider sending contributions to the SAMPE Los Angeles Chapter:

The Irene Epstein Memorial Scholarship Fund

c/o SAMPE Los Angeles Chapter

Dr. Clement Hiel

767 Channel St., San Pedro, CA 90731