Perry Yaney, a University of Dayton professor emeritus of physics who co-founded UD's interdisciplinary electro-optics graduate program, died Aug. 5, 2025. He was 94.
Yaney joined the University of Dayton Research Institute in 1963 and transferred to UD's Department of Physics in 1965 as an assistant professor. He was promoted to professor in 1975.
In 1984, Yaney co-founded the electro-optics graduate program in UD's School of Engineering and held a joint appointment as a professor of physics and electro-optics. He retired in June 2004 with the rank of professor emeritus.
After his retirement, Yaney continued to advise and mentor graduate students on UD's campus. He also oversaw several rounds of repairs to the Foucault pendulum in UD's Sherman Hall, a campus landmark since 1959.
Jason Deibel, associate professor and Department of Physics chair, said Yaney was eager to welcome him into the local optics community upon his arrival in Dayton as a young, new assistant professor at another institution.
"It was not long before I realized how highly the community respected his dedication for and impact on optics research and education, and scientific outreach," Deibel said. "Both the physics department and the Department of Electro-Optics and Photonics exist today in part as a result of Dr. Yaney's dedication to teaching, mentoring and research."
Yaney's teaching spanned a variety of undergraduate first-year and upper-level physics courses as well as electro-optics graduate courses. He funded and directed more than 30 electro-optics graduate students and more than 15 physics graduate students in their thesis research. In addition, he funded and mentored more than 25 undergraduate students on year-long laboratory research projects.
Yaney had more than 40 years of experience in research, including the design, construction and testing of prototype electro-optics systems and fundamental physics studies. He was responsible for the design and development of a number of research laboratory facilities at UD and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Yaney had more than 80 journal publications and presentations since 1970. He was principal investigator on funded research that totaled more than $3 million and a principal scientist on projects that totaled more than $6 million.
Yaney managed the Foucault pendulum's maintenance since he joined the physics faculty in 1965. He oversaw repairs in 2017 and 2021 to protect and preserve this important University symbol, which sustained damage in 2020.
"I've kept it going, all of these years," Yaney said in a 2021 news story about the pendulum's restoration and repairs. "That's just my nature; I fix things and make them work if I can."
From 2003 to 2015, Yaney planned, organized and coordinated exhibits at TechFest — a free, two-day family event held annually at Sinclair Community College in Dayton that is designed to inspire young students to explore career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.
"We will never know how many science and engineering careers were inspired by visiting TechFest, but anyone who has ever attended TechFest knows the impact of this program," Deibel said. "Dr. Yaney's memory is preserved in the Foucault pendulum that greets arrivals to the physics department and he will continue to support optics education with the scholarship fund that he created last year."
Yaney held a doctorate in physics and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, both from the University of Cincinnati. His professional associations included the American Physical Society, Optical Society of America, SPIE — The International Society for Optics and Photonics, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.
Yaney enjoyed traveling with his wife, Mary, and family, according to his obituary page. He also had his pilot's license and flew a Cessna for many years.
Family, friends and colleagues will be received 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 East Stroop Rd., Kettering.
Funeral services are at noon Thursday, Aug. 14, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 6245 Wilmington Pike, Centerville, with a viewing preceding at 11 a.m. Following the funeral services, Yaney will be buried at Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. A reception will follow the burial at St. Francis of Assisi Church.