Northeastern alumnus Dr. Joe Krackeler has kept busy since receiving his PhD in polymer chemistry in 1967. From consulting in polymers and molding materials throughout the Silicon Valley, to owning a cheesecake company, to being on the championship Team USA Hockey Team over 80 – he has done it all.
EDUCATION
After receiving his Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from Villanova University, and his Master’s in Engineering from Princeton University, Krackeler went to work at research contracting company Arthur D. Little. While working there, he decided to pursue more chemistry courses back at school. Starting off part time, busy with work and three young children at home, Krackeler began taking classes at Northeastern like organic and inorganic chemistry, and polymer chemistry. In 1964, Krackeler entered Northeastern as a full-time student of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, pursuing the PhD in polymer chemistry. With the help from a NASA fellowship and three experienced polymer chemists on faculty, he quickly moved through his courses with strong motivation.
“My outlook attending school was a little different than a lot of the other students, because they were younger and very social, and I had more experience,” he said. Krackeler was inspired by the knowledgeable faculty working in polymer chemistry, whose background in industry helped guide Krackeler’s interests further along the same path.
Krackeler made the most out of his time at Northeastern. He recalls working out of his office on the fourth floor of Richards Hall. He was able to conduct research with the help of assistants and build off of his experience working in the industry.
“Northeastern for me always had an outstanding reputation with the co-op program,” he said. “At Arthur D. Little, we had several co-ops working with us. They were helping us all of the time, and they were really capable. They took it upon themselves to learn how to do things, and do them right – that’s what Northeastern is teaching them. And that’s unbelievable!”
POST DOCTORATE CAREER
After graduating, Krackeler found himself in Menlo Park, California, working for the Raychem Corporation as a polymer chemist, moving through several management and marketing positions. After 20 years there, Krackeler decided to venture in new directions on his own.
“I took the opportunity to pursue a number of areas that I had always been interested in,” he said. “I did a lot of consulting in polymer chemistry in California. I also owned a cheesecake company, a baseball lithograph company, I started a real estate investment newsletter, and even began to do some investing of my own in Northern California.”
As an independent consultant in the middle of Silicon Valley, Krackeler found himself busy. While his background was not centered around computer and electrical engineering as many professionals in Silicon Valley, Krackeler’s expertise in polymer chemistry was still useful to them. Krackeler built up several local clients who looked to him for guidance in the chemistry of the materials used for different applications, like formulating different plastics with additives that would help enhance their properties.
Outside of consulting, Krackeler also spent time teaching both chemistry and property management at a local junior college in California for 11 years.
STAYING ACTIVE
But if you thought that wasn’t enough for one person to accomplish – there’s more.
Krackeler is an active member of the Team USA Hockey over 80 team, which last October, beat Team Canada at a tournament in Ottawa, Canada.
Courtesy photo.
“It was a really big event for us,” said Krackeler. “There had never been an 80-year-old hockey team playing internationally before, and the U.S. had never been part of something like this before.”
Krackeler has been playing pond hockey since he grew up in the Boston area, and continued in upstate New York until he was no longer a teenager.
“I was fortunate enough to know the fellow putting together the team of 80-year-old hockey players around the country, so I got to be involved,” he said. “Senior hockey where I am starts at 35, so this was really exciting for me. And we won!”
When he’s not playing hockey, you can find Krackeler spending time with his seven children and 13 grandchildren between him and his second wife. This February, the whole family went on their 23rd annual ski trip to Deer Valley, Utah. Despite all of his grandchildren now being in college themselves, the family still finds time for this long-lasting tradition.
“Skiiing there is the best of the best,” said Krackeler. “All my grandkids have learned to ski there, and it’s sort of a family ritual now to spend the time.”
