Irving Hand, professor emeritus of state and regional planning at Penn State Harrisburg, passed away on Saturday, May 14. He was 94 years old.
Hand served on the campus' faculty from 1972 to 1993.
He held a master of city planning degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and completed graduate work with the Institute of Public Administration at New York University. He earned a bachelor of science degree in social sciences from the City College of New York.
In 1972, Hand played a prominent role in planning education at Penn State Harrisburg, where he served as the chair of the graduate degree program in urban and regional planning. Additionally, in 1973 and 1978, respectively, Hand established the Institute of State and Regional Affairs and the Pennsylvania State Data Center.
In 1979, Hand developed Penn State's annual Basic Economic Development Course. During his tenure at Penn State, Hand was co-editor of The Practice of State and Regional Planning (1986), published by the American Planning Association in cooperation with the International City Management Association.
Following his retirement in 1993 from Penn State, Hand served as principal emeritus and chairman of the board of directors of Delta Development Group Inc., a consulting firm in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
Hand is survived by a niece, Ruth Finizio; nephew, Joel Simon; sister-in-law, Gertrude Solomon; and many beloved friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mildred and Irving Hand Scholarship Fund in Public Affairs, Penn State Harrisburg, 777 West Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057-4898; or Temple Ohev Sholom, 2345 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110.
Read more at http://www.hetrickbitnerfuneralhome.com/obituary/Dr.-Irving-Hand/Harrisburg-PA/1618717#sthash.cNojwY3l.dpuf.