Hubert Probst

Dr. Hubert “Bert” Probst, 86, of Ellicottville, NY, formerly of Bay Village, OH (Cleveland) died Thursday September 7, 2017 at Mercy Hospital, Buffalo, NY following a short illness.

Born November 16, 1930 in Louisville, KY, he was the son of the late William Probst and Charlotte Schmidt Probst. He was married on December 1, 1962 to the former Jane Maisch of Lakewood, OH. He is survived by Jane, and children Joseph (Donna), Mary (William) and Timothy (Tahira), and 8 loving grandchildren.

Dr. Probst was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (’53), University of Michigan (’54) and Case Institute of Technology (’58), where he received Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate Degrees in Metallurgy. He was employed for 35 years at NASA Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, OH and retired as the Chief Scientist of the Materials Research Branch. Dr. Probst’s scientific work was focused on high temperature materials for aerospace applications.

Outside of his loving devotion as a husband and father to his family, he was very involved with several organizations. He was a member of the National Ski Patrol for 46 years. First at Brandywine Ski Area (1970-76) in Cleveland, then at Holiday Valley Resort (1976-2017) in Ellicottville, NY. He was also a member of the Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program and the Holiday Valley Snowsports School for over 25 years. He made numerous contributions to both organizations and set the standard for dedication. Dr. Probst was also an amateur astronomer and built a telescope observatory at his home. He was active in presenting astronomy lectures and teaching astronomy classes. Recently, he had witnessed the total solar eclipse in Oregon with Jane and son Tim and his family.

Dr. Probst was a longtime parishioner of St. Raphael Roman Catholic Church in Bay Village, OH and Holy Name of Mary Roman Catholic Church in Ellicottville, NY.

Friends may call at the O’Rourke & O’Rourke Inc. Funeral Home, 25 River St, Salamanca, NY on Tuesday, September 12 from 6 pm to 9 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Holy Name of Mary Roman Catholic Church, 22 Jefferson St, Ellicottville, NY at 11 am Wednesday, September 13.

Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery.

E-condolences can be sent to john@orourke-orourke.com.

Flowers are respectfully declined. Memorial donations may be made to Lounsbury Adaptive Program,

Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program Holiday Valley Resort PO Box 370 Ellicottville, NY 14731

Or, Ellicottville Memorial Library, 6499 Maples Rd, Ellicottville, NY 14731