WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THIS COUNTRY

About the Book

This is the inspirational true story of the American Dream; a compelling first-hand account of a poor Turkish immigrant. The author’s family’s origins began in the Balkans during the Ottoman period and after many decimating wars they finally settled in Izmir, Turkey. Özcan Tuncel was born in Izmir in 1937 in a turbulent and uncertain era. He grew up in a poor neighborhood, the only child of a cobbler and homemaker. His family’s struggles in very difficult circumstances paralleled the country’s growing pains. Recognizing the absence of a prosperous future in his native land, Tuncel dedicated himself to his studies, earning a prestigious government-sponsored scholarship to study in the United States. His American education began with his attaining B.S. and M.S. degrees at Lehigh University and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. During the next forty years, his engineering career at General Electric Company’s Power Generation and Jet Engine Businesses as a technologist and manager provided him opportunities to make significant technical contributions. His vast professional accomplishments included designing turbo machinery for the US Nuclear Navy and developing machinery for power plants in the United States, India, Japan and other countries. Tuncel raised a family in his new homeland while maintaining strong ties with his native country. He tells his life story with humor, tenderness and exceptional detail. The precarious surroundings and memorable experiences of that time are colorfully described. This remarkable journey is another immigrant story.

About the Author

After forty years of an engineering career at General Electric Company’s Power Generation and Jet Engines Businesses, Dr. Özcan Tuncel now lives in Lynnfield, Massachusetts and Pompano Beach, Florida with his wife of 41 years, Ilkay. His life spans from impoverished beginnings in Izmir, Turkey, to America as a student and later a successful educator, engineer and manager. While he has achieved significant professional success throughout his career, he never forgot his roots. By combining the cultures of his native land and his adopted country, he contributed to both while raising a wonderful family.