Pete Cerny

October 1, 1946 - December 19, 2008

Otto Peter Cerny, age 62, died suddenly Friday morning. Pete was born in Linz, Austria on October 1, 1946, and came to the United States in 1957 when his father joined the Werner von Braun team to work on rockets. His parents, now deceased, are Otto F. and Hedemarie Cerny. Pete was also preceded in death by his sister Claudia Cerny Richardson.

Pete was a 1964 graduate of Huntsville High School and he earned his BS in Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University in 1969. He went on to receive his MS in Engineering from UAH in 1976. He also completed course work for his Doctoral Degree in Research and Engineering Management.

Pete worked for defense contractors in Huntsville, including Northrop, CSC, Teledyne Brown Engineering, and SPARTA and had spent over 27 years as a civil servant in the federal government, most recently as Chief of the System Integration Division in the Missile Defense Agency. He worked on and chaired many complex projects during his distinguished career, and had many published technical papers. Pete received technical awards, plaques and recognitions too numerous to mention.

He was a graduate of the Defense System Management College and the Air Command and Staff College. He was a Senior Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, an Honor Graduate of the U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command Management Development Program, and a recipient of the U.S. ArmyStrategic Defense Command's highest civilian award - the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service Excellence. Pete's contributions to the Technology Advancement and Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) programs earned him national recognition.

He was also Past President of ASMDA (Air, Space, and Missile Defense Association) and Past President of the Toastmasters Club, where he achieved the highest level of competence. Pete was an achiever outside the office as well. While working in Warner Robins,Georgia, he started an Auburn Alumni Association there, serving as its Presidentand hosting both Auburn’s head football coach and head basketball coach at alumni events. Pete coached his son and daughter’s baseball, softball, basketball and soccer teams for many years, and enjoyed working with young people.

Pete loved playing tennis and his teams made it to state championship tournaments several times. Pete enjoyed travelling and he and his wife Peggy hadgone on a cruise through the Panama Canal and Central America just this year, and had more travels in their plans. Pete was on the board of the Aerospace Engineering Council at Auburn, a LifetimeMember of the Auburn Alumni Association, a long-time Tigers Unlimited contributor, and a Life 500 Club member of the Huntsville Madison County Auburn Club. He was an Auburn Tiger who bled orange and blue. Every football season since college you could find him and his family attending all of Auburn’s home games and some away games.

Pete is survived by his college sweetheart and loving wife of 39 years, Peggy; his daughter Allison Thomas and her husband Steve of Huntsville, and his son Eric Cerny, of Columbus, Ohio. He was also the doting grandfather to his four grandchildren Jackson Wade Thomas, Aidan Caroline Thomas, Rushton Kate Thomas and new arrival Cannon Wells Thomas. Additionally, he is survived by a cousin Judy Howald and her husband Sherwood of Bunker Hill, Illinois and one cousin in Austria. If you wish, remembrances can be made to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis or to the local Salvation Army. Pete always believed in helping others where he could. The family asks that you remember Pete and them in your prayers. WAR EAGLE, PETE. WAR EAGLE FOREVER!