Arthur Edwin Wemmell Jr.

ALLEGANY — Arthur Edwin Wemmell Jr., 78, died Tuesday (Nov. 4, 2025) from a lengthy and challenging illness which he fought courageously.

Born in Derby, Conn., he was the son of the late Arthur E. Wemmell Sr. and Lillian Wilhelmy Wemmell. In September, 1979, at the First Presbyterian Church in Portville, he married Melanie Quist, who survives.

Arthur graduated from Ramsey High School in Ramsey, N.J. in 1965 and holds a BS in mechanical engineering from Lehigh University, 1969, in Bethlehem, Pa.; and an MBA from Saint Bonaventure University in Allegany.

Art was employed as an engineer for his 35-year career, first at Pratt and Whitney in West Palm Beach, Fla. as a development test engineer in the research and development group, testing for NASA; then at Dresser-Rand in Olean as lead compressor design engineer.

He dutifully traveled the world to solve complicated and challenging production problems for many of the prominent oil and gas customers. He was a lifelong member of ASME and NMA.

Arthur authored several publications, including contributing work on a book of compressor design. He was an integral part of the successful strategic alliance between ARCO Alaska and Dresser-Rand in the early 1990s and their ultimate explorations in Prudhoe Bay.

Arthur was a prolific reader, which allowed him to be self-taught in several areas of interest, sailing and boat maintenance to name two that were special to him. He was extremely proud of the restored 1960 mahogany classic boat they owned and used on the Allegheny Reservoir. He spent summers boating with the family on the reservoir, and occasionally Chautauqua Lake.

He was an expert water skier, scuba diver and was a teacher of boating and sailing. He was the former commodore of the Onoville Sailing Club, and a member of Boat US and Antique Boating Society. The sailing club sponsored races of sailboat yachts, 22 ft and larger, weekly throughout the summer.  Although a social club, Art took the responsibility of commodore very seriously to uphold the integrity of the club and its members.

He loved to travel and arranged for many exciting trips with his family. He loved nature, knowledge, animals, water skiing, adventure, but his family was his passion.

He was a dedicated Yankee and Giants fan, as well as a Penn State football fan.

Art is survived by his wife of 46 years, Melanie; and their three children, Ashley (Nicolas) Pavlovich and two grandsons, Theo and Evan of Baltimore, Md., Jeffrey (Sally Yurim Koh) Wemmell of Denver, Colo. and Daniel (Cristin Murray) Wemmell of Buffalo; his sister, Lynn Hodges of Chesterfield, Va.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Brenda Quist and Lance Chaffee of Allegany; and by three nieces, three nephews and seven great-nieces/nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; sister and brother-in-law, Marlene and Aaron Pulhamus; as well as his loving stepmother and grandmother to his children, Elfrieda Wemmell.

No services are being planned at this time. Burial will be in the family plot located in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, Mass.

Flowers are gratefully declined and memorials, if desired, may be made to the HDSA organization at www.hdsa.org.

Arrangements are with the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, Olean.