Penn State Berks mourns the loss of David L. Thun, a close friend and champion of the college, who passed away on October 31, 2024 at the age of 87.
WYOMISSING, Pa. — Penn State Berks mourns the loss of David L. Thun, a close friend and champion of the college, who passed away on Oct. 31 at the age of 87.
David Thun was the grandson of Ferdinand Thun, co-founder of the Wyomissing Industries, and Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute (WPI), the predecessor institution of Penn State Berks.
In an interview for the college’s 50th anniversary history book in 2008, David Thun explained how the founders of WPI, Ferdinand Thun and Henry Janssen, reached the decision to approach Penn State about taking over operations of Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute.
“The institute had gotten to the point that it was really difficult for the industries to maintain it as an independent institution," Thun said. "So, [they] thought about what might be a good alternative, and the concept was that maybe [they] could get Penn State interested in establishing a campus in Berks County, and have them pick up the academic training and teaching, but continue to offer the technical courses that were needed.”
The Wyomissing Center of The Pennsylvania State University, as the new school was officially named, opened in the fall of 1958, just months after the closing of WPI, ensuring that there was no break in educational continuity.
The college’s Thun Library is named in honor of the family and the important part they played in the history of the Berks campus. Thun served on the Penn State Berks Advisory Board, and he was an avid supporter of students, and in particular, the college’s engineering programs.
Thun earned a bachelor’s degree from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He also attended and received a diploma in business administration from the London School of Economics. He went on to serve his country honorably as an officer in the United States Coast Guard.
Following the legacy of his grandfather, Thun returned to Berks County in 1988 and purchased Magnatech International, a textile manufacturing company specializing in braiding machines. The company had grown into an industry leader in braiding technology since its founding in 1892 as the initial component of the Wyomissing Industries. Later in life, he went on to work as an independent management consulting professional.
Throughout his life, Thun made a significant impact on the community. He served on countless advisory committees and boards, including the Schuylkill River Greenways, the Reading Hospital, the Reading Public Museum, and the Berks County Community Foundation, just to name a few.
