Samuel Joseph Dechter
, Washington
Samuel Joseph Dechter, 83, of Richland, WA, passed away Sunday, March 29, 2026. “Sam” was born April 21, 1942, in McKeesport, PA. He was son to Dr. Joseph M. and Ruth E. (Young) Dechter, RN. An excellent student, he graduated valedictorian at East McKeesport High School in 1960. He was awarded a full-ride scholarship to Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, PA, continuing to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in science. He was also active in the C.I.T. band, playing the clarinet, tenor saxophone and bagpipes, becoming a proud Kiltie piper. Sam was actively involved in 2 fraternities: the Alpha Phi Omega -Kappa chapter and Delta Tau Delta finishing his senior year as vice president of his chapter.After college, he married Kathy Thompson on August 6, 1966, and was hired as a nuclear scientist by Westinghouse Electric Company. As he rose in management, the family moved all over the US…