Nancy D. Fitzroy, a pioneer in heat-transfer and fluid-flow research for gas turbines, nuclear-reactor cores and other systems in a 37-year career at General Electric Co., could only access mens' rooms as an engineering student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the late 1940s.
The Troy, N.Y., university made amends on May 5, when it awarded her the engineering school's top honor, the Davies Medal for Engineering Achievement. She is the first woman to receive the school's honor.