Henry H. "Pete" Kohl | Chemical engineer, 81

Henry H. "Pete" Kohl, 81, of Media, a retired chemical engineer and adventurous traveler, died of cancer April 20 at Riddle Village, a retirement community in Media he helped found.

A native of Yonkers, N.Y., Mr. Kohl graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H. During World War II, he served in the Navy in the Pacific.

After his discharge, he earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He then joined the DuPont Co. in Newbury, N.Y. In 1962 he transferred to the DuPont laboratory in Philadelphia and later worked for the company in Wilmington before retiring in 1985.

For more than 20 years, Mr. Kohl served on the board of Riddle Memorial Hospital in Media and was chairman from 2002 to 2004. In 1991 he joined the founding board of Riddle Village and was involved in planning the community, which was built on 40 acres next to the hospital. Riddle Village opened in 1993, and Mr. Kohl and his wife, Annie Atkins Kohl, moved from their home in Media to an apartment in the village in 2000. He remained on the board until two years ago.

For 20 years, Mr. Kohl and his wife traveled all over the country in their own plane; she was the pilot and he the navigator. Their travels abroad included an African safari, a cruise down the Nile, climbs up the Himalayas, and trips to South America and Antarctica.

In addition to his wife of 55 years, he is survived by sons Edward and Albert; a daughter, Eleanora McCreavy; a sister; two grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Services were private.

Memorial donations may be made to the Riddle Village Endowment Fund, 1048 W. Baltimore Pike, Media, Pa. 19063.