By Nicole Hamilton
The Cincinnati Enquirer

When David J. Pusack wasn't working as a metallurgical engineer for Cincinnati Milling Machine Company, he was tending to his avocations - either as a wildlife educator or in musical theater.

Mr. Pusack, a former Anderson Township resident who had been living in Sterling, Va., died June 21 at Reston Hospital in Sterling from a brain hemorrhage. He was 80.

"He was a gregarious enthusiast who had many interests," said his daughter, Laura Abegglen of Anderson Township. "He was very active in world wildlife and traveled all over - to Asia, Africa, and even the polar regions to research. And he had a lot of fun in Cincinnati musical theater, where he acted, sang, or produced."

Born in Detroit, Mr. Pusack graduated from the University of Michigan in 1944 with a bachelor's degree in engineering. He entered the Navy to serve as a lieutenant in World War II, and was stationed in the Aleutian Islands and Japan.

After being honorably discharged in 1946, Mr. Pusack moved to Cincinnati with his wife, Lucy, and accepted a position as a metallurgical engineer with Cincinnati Milling Machine Company (now Cincinnati Milacron Inc.).

He completed his master's degree in business administration at Xavier University in the 1970s and served as the milling company's tax consultant and financial planner.

For several years, Mr. Pusack worked at the Cincinnati Nature Center in Clermont County as a teacher.

He retired from Cincinnati Milling Machine Company in 1981 and moved to Fort Myers, Fla., where he and his wife lived until her death in 1994.

Mr. Pusack then moved to Sterling, where he was active as a docent at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Leesburg, Va.

Mr. Pusack was on the board of the Marjorie P. Lee Retirement Community in Hyde Park and the Forest Hills Board of Education.

In addition to his daughter, survivors include another daughter, Barbara Harris of Kitzingen, Germany; a son, David of Singapore; a brother, George of Davidson, N.C.; and six grandchildren.

Services have been held. Burial was in Spring Grove Cemetery.

Memorials: Cincinnati Nature Center, 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford, 45150, or to Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 741 Miller Dr SE, Suite G-2, Leesburg, VA 20175.

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Email nhamilton@enquirer.com