BIOGRAPHICAL STUFF
19 Jan 1937 - 08 Nov 2009

I was born in Chicago,IL, in the U.S.A. an extremely talented pianist from infancy. Attended La Salle, Chicago Conservatory of Music, Lane Technical, University of Illinois, Bethany College and Glendale City College. Was also at Oxford and Cambridge Universities (visit).

Member of the U.S.A.F. Civil Air Patrol and Ground Observer Corps. between 1952 and 1953.

Served active duty in the United States Air Force 1954 to 1958. Basic training, electronics fundamental and airborne electronics training from 1954 to 1955. Strategic Air Command as Radar and Radio flight group leader in the 40th Medium Bombardment Wing (B-47 bombers) from 1955 to 1958 at Schilling A.F.B. (formerly Smoky Hill A.F.B.) near Salina, Kansas. Travel included temporary duty at Greenham Common R.A.F base near Newbury in Berkshire England (1957), Mildenhall R.A.F. base near New Market England (1958), Dhahran Air Base near El Kobar Saudi Arabia and Keflavic Air Base near Reykjavik, Iceland. Stop-overs included Bangor Maine, Goose Bay Labrador, St. Johns Newfoundland, Lajes Azores, Tripoli Libya, Zaragoza Spain, and a R&R in Copenhagen Denmark. Released from active duty with two medals and eligible for Korean War Veteran benefits in 1958. Honorable Discharge received after an additional 4 years of in-active duty as a reserve Staff Sergeant.

Employed by International Telephone and Telegraph for 7 1/2 years on the Distant Early Warning Line (DEWLine) in the Arctic Circle for the U.S.A.F. from 1959 to 1962 as a radician and as Intermediate Station Chief in the Point Barrow (POW) sector; at Vandenberg A.F.B. missile development near Lompoc California as radar/telemetry operations/maintenance and Range Control Group Leader for the Range Control Officer from 1962 to 1967.

Employed by Bendix Field Engineering at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a Senior Field Engineer in Deep Space operations control and planning; as a systems data analyst for Command and Tracking systems from 1967 to 1970.

Employed by California Institute of Technology at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Deep Space operations from 1970 to 1999, as Operations Chief, Command system lead analyst; Supervisor of Operations Control, Performance Analysis, Project Planning, Ground Communications, Documentation and Scheduling Groups; as Manager of Tracking and Data Systems, and Manager of Telecommunications and Mission Suport for selected NASA and European Space Agency projects until early retirement at the ripe age of 62 in 1999. Travel included Washington, D.C., Florida, Maryland, Texas, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, India, and Singapore.


To view Recognitions, Awards, click here.

Hobbies: Piano, arts & crafts, digital and film photography

Member of:

  • La Canada/Flintridge "Wright Stuff Jazz Band"
  • Lane Tech Alumni (lifetime)
  • La Canada/Flintridge Tournament of Roses
  • Verdugo Hills Hospital Volunteer Association
  • Association of Retired Caltech Employees
  • North American Air Defense Team (lifetime)
  • American Legion Post 280, East Pasadena
  • Friends of McGroarty Art Center - Patron
  • Senior Advisory Committee (SNAFD), KinetX Inc.

Played the piano or electronic keyboard for or at the La Canada Kiwanis & Chamber of Commerce, Delta Kappa Gamma, former Sparr Restaurant of La Canada, Glendale Verdugo Hills Hospital, La Canada Learning Center, La Canada Renaissance School, Olims Ainsley Hotel (Canberra, Australia), La Crescenta Womens Club, San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, East Pasadena American Legion Post 280, La Canada YMCA, La Canada Country Club, Glendale Oakmont Country Club, Glendale Adult Recreation Center, Sparr Heights Senior Center, La Canada Thursday Club and La Canada CAP Assistance League, Pasadena Brookside Country Club, La Canada Saint Bedes 50th Anniversary Planning Group, Glendale AARP, La Crescenta Saint James Senior Group, local wedding, going away parties and celebrations.




A long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

(Note: The following is a list of pictures. Click on the thumbnail to view it in full size, and just click your back button on your browser or the back link on the full size picture to come back to this page to continue.)
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