- Stella Kuylenstierna Andrassy was a countess originally from Sweden. She emigrated to Hungary but had to flee with her husband, Count Imre Andrassy, when the Russians took over in 1945
- Countess Andrassy came to New York City in 1948 and started writing a book on her specialty–solar energy devices
- In 1959, she and her husband moved to Kingston in order for her to be able to work for Curtiss-Wright in their solar energy laboratory
- In 1960, the lab closed down and Stella and her husband formed the Solar-Electric Laboratories. They did their own research in the basement of their house in Kingston
- Developed the following solar devices–solar water heater, water purifier, sludge desiccator, desalinator, and fruit dehydrator. She also developed a solar cooker which was introduced to the public in 1980. Her inventions are known for their simplicity and potential for use in developing nations, because they are relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Thus, Countess Andrassy became a leader in the field of “practical technology.”
“My family in Sweden was rich, my husband was rich, we were privileged so we had to do something because of my position to help others”
Stella Andrassy explains why she creates inventions that can benefit poor people in developing countries. Central Post May 26th 1983