H. Slayton "Slate" Altenburg

H. Slayton Altenburg, 79, of Tamaqua, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on Friday Aug 26th.  Slate leaves his loving wife Janet (Hagar) Altenburg. Born in Baltimore, MD. He was the son of the late William M. and Barbara (Underhill) Altenburg.

Slate was raised at the edge of the wilderness just north of Portland, ME. Summers in high school were spent in the White Mountains as a “hutman” for the Appalachian Mountain Club. Slate earned his BSME from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. His post graduate work included courses in business and finance at New Haven College. While employed as an applications engineer, building capital equipment for the rubber and plastics industry, he started and coached a Junior Achievement Program, teaching principles of finance and industry to high school seniors.

As an engineer for Ametek West Chester Plastics in 1974, he orchestrated the division’s move to Nesquehoning, PA. Slate later founded Technical Process & Engineering, whose expansion was recognized by the greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, Carbon County, as their 2015 Economic Development Project of the Year. TPEI continues to be a leader in equipment manufacturing and service, material and process development, and is staffed by generations of local employees committed to serving the needs of customers and community that Slate instilled within the business.

Slate has spent much of his life leading scout organizations in the area ranging from cub master to venture crew advisor. He spent five years as Chairman of Broad Mountain District and was currently serving on the Executive Board of Hawk Mountain Council.  His other contributions to area youth included organizer of the Tamaqua Youth Soccer program and he has led multiple youth trips to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway and Delaware River.

Slate had a deep love of skiing for more than seventy years. He shared memories of skiing in Austria, Italy and Switzerland and he organized annual family ski trips to Okemo Mountain in Vermont. Nationally he was the 49th person to achieve mutual certification by both the Professional Ski Patrol Association and the National Ski Patrol. Slate founded the Ski Patrol at Blue Mountain and served ten years as the patrol leader.

As a member of St. Peter’s Church, West Penn, Slate worked with the Kitchen Krew and designed a device to core apples in making apple dumplings.

Slate was a Master Gardener and served two years as County Coordinator for Penn state extension service where he taught others the New England tradition of tapping maple trees and the process of boiling gallons of maple sap to create a delectable treat.

Slate loved a good adventure. He enjoyed his cross-country road trips in his van and he and his wife Janet cherished their two week rafting trip on the Colorado river. Slate and Janet travelled extensively including Great Britain, Scandinavia, Italy, and France.

He was also preceded in death by a brother Sherman. Surviving in addition to his wife, are a son, Slayton W. and his wife, Leanna, of Palmerton; two daughters, Lauren, wife of Ted Carlson, of Rutland, MA, and Heather, wife of Patrick O’Toole, of Upton, MA; brother, William M., of Fryeburg, ME; sister-in-law, Beverly, of Cape Elizabeth, ME; five grandchildren, Kjellrun Altenburg, Alissa and Brian Carlson, Kairat and Alina O’Toole, nieces and nephews.

Memorial service will be held at 11am on Saturday, September 17, 2022, at St. Peter’s Church, West Penn, 184 St. Peter’s Rd, Tamaqua, with Rev. Virginia M. Heimer officiating. A Celebration of Life will follow at Slate and Janet’s residence. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Nick’s House (headstrong.org/donate) (Donate Today | HEADstrong) or the Hawk Mountain Council, BSA. Arrangements are being handled by the Hartman Funeral Home, 1791 West Penn Pike, Rte. 309, New Ringgold. Online condolences may be made at www.hartmanfuneralhomeinc.com.