Obituary of Daniel Pope

Daniel L. Pope of Tunkhannock, PA passed away on January 14, 2021 at Tyler Memorial Hospital after a long battle with cancer. Dan was born in Buffalo, NY on March 4, 1931, son of John and Esther (Johnson) Pope of Oakfield, NY. He was a 1948 graduate of Oakfield High School. He then entered the School of Architecture at Cornell University, but after one term transferred to The College of Engineering. In 1953, he was awarded a degree as Bachelor of Civil Engineering, with distinction. He then spent 2 years in the US Army, stationed at Ft. Bliss, Texas serving in the Ground Guidance Division of the Guided Missile School there. He was discharged in 1956 with the rank of Captain. Pope returned to Cornell for graduate studies. He earned his PhD in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in 1962. He served as an instructor in the Department during his time in graduate school. He met his wife, Jean, at Cornell. They were married on April 4, 1953, two months prior to their graduation. Jean died on November 19, 2017. They were married for nearly 65 years. Pope accepted a job with Bell Laboratories, the research arm of AT&T and reported to work in September 1962 at their facility in Whippany, NJ. He was initially assigned to the Analytical Mechanics Department and worked on problems of orbital mechanics. He was promoted in 1965. In 1972 he became a member of the Laboratories' Outside Plant Department. Development of procedures for fiber optic cable installation was an important project. In 1977, Pope led the group of engineers and technicians that installed the Bell System's first working fiber Communication system under the streets of Chicago. Dan continued to lead Outside Plant research at Bell Lab's Chester facility until his retirement in 1993. The Pope family had settled in Chester,NJ when they moved from Ithaca, NY in 1962. Pope was active in municipal affairs there, serving on the Library Board for more than 20 years, as a Chester Township councilman for 5 years and on a consolidation committee in an effort to merge Chester Borough and Chester Township. Upon retirement, the Popes moved to Tunkhannock, PA. There Dan continued his volunteer activities. He served 6 years on the Endless Mts. Heritage Region Board, and several years on the Penn State Cooperative Extension Board. Both he and Jean were active Master Gardeners. He also completed two terms on the Cornell Plantation Advisory Council. Dan was a volunteer at the soup kitchen in Tunkhannock for several years. He is survived by his daughters: Susan Balentine (Jeffrey) and their son Reed of Annapolis, MD, Amy Arnold (Ricky) of Ridgeway, VA and their son Seth of Grottoes, VA, and Emily (George) Maseeh and their children Jeffrey and Michelle of Tucson, AZ. Services will be at the convenience of the family. Arrangements and care entrusted to Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home, Inc. 73 W. Tioga St. Tunkhannock, PA 18657. Memorial contributions may be made in Dan’s name to the charity of your choice.