Stephen Clement Mettler

It is with great sadness that the family of Stephen Clement Mettler Ph.D., announces his passing on October 14, 2025, at his home in Sandy Springs, Georgia. He was born December 28, 1940, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the son of Robert Donald Mettler and Dorothy Carroll Bartholomy Mettler.

Steve lived a life of service, achievement, and innovation. Growing up in Fort Wayne, he was shaped by his family’s strong work ethic and the values of his community. As a student in Catholic schools, he sang in the boys’ choir and learned to serve Mass in Latin. He was a Boy Scout in Troop 8, and he spent summers at camp earning merit badges and exploring the outdoors.

Steve attended the U.S. Air Force Academy as a member of the class of 1962, where he developed the discipline and leadership that would define his character. He was very proud to be a member of the "Red Tag Bastards", the nickname bestowed upon the third ever class admitted to the USAFA . During his Air Force career, he flew in multiple conflicts including Vietnam where he flew O-2 Skymaster reconnaissance missions as a Forward Air Controller. In 1969 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his efforts to save a fellow pilot who had been downed.

Following military service, Steve pursued his passion for science and engineering at Purdue University while earning a Master's in Physics in 1972 and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 1976. His academic excellence laid the foundation for a remarkable career in telecommunications.

Steve joined Bell Laboratories in Atlanta, later called Lucent Technologies, where he made significant contributions to the field of optical communications. He held patents for his pioneering work on optical fiber switch technology and was instrumental in the development of the first optical switch, a technology that helped revolutionize modern telecommunications and continues to impact how the world communicates today. He also contributed to international telecommunications standards through his involvement with the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) and the UN International Telecommunications Union (UN ITU).

Throughout his more than two-decade battle with cancer, Steve faced his illness with the same courage and determination he showed as a pilot and innovator. His strength inspired all who knew him.

Steve was a devoted husband and father who supported his wife, Kathryn, through medical school and her residency and fellowship, taking on all the grocery shopping, cooking, and laundry while caring for their three young children in elementary school. He shared his passion for technology with his children, fostering their curiosity and innovation. A baseball enthusiast, he instilled in them a love of the game that created countless cherished family memories.

Steve is preceded in death by his father, Robert Donald Mettler; his mother, Dorothy Carroll Bartholomy; his brothers, Michael Carroll Mettler and Rick Mettler; and his sister, Anne-Marie Mettler.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Kathryn Wiedl Mettler; his three children, Stephen (Stacy Montford), Elizabeth (Sean Flaherty), and Donald (Barbara Mooney); and 14 cherished grandchildren: Stevie, Kyle, Katherine, Annaka, Shane, Sam, Dillon, Will, Andrew, Jake, Ryan, Eva, Callahan, and Sophie. He is also survived by his two sisters, Connie and Meg Mettler and 10 nephews and nieces.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at H.M. Patterson & Son Oglethorpe Hill Memorial Home from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 27, 2025, at Christ the King Cathedral, followed by a small reception at the cathedral. Burial will follow at Arlington Memorial Park in Atlanta.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Steve may be made to the Stephen C. Mettler Ph.D. Physics Scholarship at Saint Mary’s College. Checks may be sent to: Saint Mary’s College, Advancement Division, 110 Le Mans Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, or online at www.saintmarys.edu/give Please indicate the Stephen C. Mettler Ph.D. Physics Scholarship in the memo line or online designation field.