Search by Name

Add a Memory

Send Flowers

Make a Donation

Share Obituary

Walter J. Saucier Sr.

About

NC State University University of Chicago University of Oklahoma

Walter Saucier Obituary

Walter J. Saucier, professor emeritus, North Carolina State University
Walter J. Saucier, Sr., professor emeritus at North Carolina State University, age 88, passed away July 17, 2010, from age-related causes at Rex Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was born October 5, 1921, at Moncla, Louisiana, a son of Louis Saucier and Sidonie Moncla.
He earned a B.S. in science education at the University of Louisiana - Lafayette in 1942, and a Ph.D. in meteorology at the University of Chicago in 1951. He served in World War II as an air corps weather officer in Europe, then continued in the USAF Reserve and retired at the grade of colonel. In 1944 he served with the 18th Weather Squadron in England, working on weather predictions for the planned D-Day invasion.
Dr. Saucier was the initial faculty appointee establishing meteorology programs in three universities - Texas A&M (1952), University of Oklahoma (1960), and NCSU (1969). Among his publications was a widely-used meteorology textbook, and several works on genealogy and Mississippi Valley history.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Helen Nobles Saucier; by sons Dr. Gerard Saucier of Eugene, OR and Laurence Saucier, of Louisville, KY; by daughters Susanne LeVine of Cornelius, OR, Diane Saucier of Denver, CO, Janine Wood, of Angier, NC, and Loraine Whitehead of Houston, TX; by daughter-in-law Ana M. Saucier of Baton Rouge, LA; and by 14 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a sister, Rhea White of Baton Rouge, LA and a brother, C.A. Saucier of Larose, LA. He was preceded in death by a son, Walter J. Saucier, Jr.
The family will receive friends between 10:30 AM and 12 noon on Tuesday, July 20, 2010, at the Brown Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 E. Millbrook Rd, Raleigh, with the memorial service following at 12 noon.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Walter J. Saucier Meteorology Scholarship Fund at NCSU. For more information, contact the PAMS Foundation at Campus Box 8201, Raleigh NC 27695, at (919) 515-3462, or online at www.pams.ncsu.edu
Condolences can be sent to the family through www.brownwynne.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The News & Observer on Jul. 19, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Walter Saucier

19 Entries

July 1, 2011

Thanks for all you Saucier family information. Rest in the Lord's Peace.
A Louisiana Saucier Family Descendant

Paul Lewis

August 16, 2010

I was saddened to hear about Dr. Saucier. When I think of him, I remember a good teacher and a nice man.

My college experiences with him consisted of two classes plus numerous informal teaching times in the old NCSU meteorology map room in the early 1980s. A group of students would always seem to hover about whenever he would come into the room to check out the day's weather. He was always very helpful in understanding the data, all of which came by way of the department's fax and teletype machines.

I will never forget going to his office once for help after doing poorly on some homework and a test. Instead of talking about my work at first, we spent the first half an hour or so discussing changing the concept of an hour from 60 minutes to a new decimal system. It was a good distraction, great fun, and got me to then think instead of trying to parrot back a lecture. I have since shown some of Dr. Saucier's famous tests to colleagues through the years. I think most of them are happy not to have had to take them!

I have had a couple of opportunities to see Dr. Saucier since college, the last time being in 2003. We spent a wonderful hour at his home going through some of his memorabilia and scrap books. He spoke about his time growing up in Louisiana, going through WWII, and briefly about the three university programs he helped to establish. At one point in our conversation, he said that his desire while growing up was to just be a science teacher in Louisiana...but WWII then intervened. I learned a great deal more about a wonderful and caring man.

I am very glad he got to live such a wonderful and full life. His passing is a great loss for all of us.

- Paul Lewis - Forecaster at WFO Houston/Galveston, TX

David Martin

August 1, 2010

I am sorry to hear about Dr. Saucier. I was just thinking of him a few days ago. I attended NCSU from 1982 until the end of 1986, as a graduate student. I had one class under Dr. Saucier. I remember all the time we sent on streamlines. David Martin - Forecaster at the WSFO in State College, PA.

Charles Hays

July 22, 2010

I went to OU from 1966 to 1970. The thing I remember most in the meteorology departement was Dr Saucier. I remember people calling his book the Bible. My condolences go out to the Family. Charles Hays

Allen Riordan

July 21, 2010

I knew Walt as a mentor and colleague at North Carolina State University for many years. I was fresh out of grad school when he and his small meteorology faculty group recommended me for the post of assistant professor at North Carolina State University in 1977. He was our leader throughout those early years, keeping the growing meteorology program intact and maintaining a sharp lookout for dangerous competing forces on campus. We'd get a hand written memo from WJS on Thursday and the next morning Walt would lead us in a procession across the brickyard to the dean's office to help advise the poor fellow on how our ship should be best steered.
Walt was always interested in the students' mastery of fundamentals and had a unique teaching style. You could sometimes see him leading his dynamics class while dressed in denim overalls and wearing a straw hat. As he wrote the equation of motion on the blackboard, he would often lead the class in his own musical rendition of "one over rho dee pee dee zee, par-levous". His densely packed one-page handouts and inscrutable multiple-choice exams were legendary.

Under Walt's guidance the program grew from three or four graduate students, maybe a dozen Air Force and half dozen civilian undergraduates in 1977, to a large entourage of perhaps thirty mostly civilian undergrad majors, and dozens of grad students by the time he retired. In the years that followed, the department continued to grow and flourish, and his finger prints are still much in evidence in course content, curriculum structure, and emphasis on applied research.

Walt always promoted strong research connections across campus, especially with the college of agriculture. Together with Walt, several of us had close research projects with many of the faculty in the Ag. school. He fostered close connections with the National Weather Service. I was especially struck by the fact that my initial job interview included a stop at the nearby National Weather Service Office where I was introduced to the staff. Walt's pioneering leadership in that direction is largely responsible for today's strong collaborative link between NCSU researchers and NWS forecasters.

By coincidence Walt spent his last years at the same retirement home where my mother-in-law lives. Though he no longer grew hot peppers, he was still getting up by 5 am and was always first in line at breakfast. He never missed the Thursday afternoon ice-cream social. Up until about two weeks ago, he was an enthusiastic participant in the morning exercise group.

I'll miss you, Walt.

Robert Sheets

July 21, 2010

I was saddened to learn of Professor Saucier's passing. I was priveleged to be in his first "full" class at the University of Oklahoma beginning in the fall of 1961. There were 11 members of our class, all recently commissioned Air Force Officers with B.S. degrees from various colleges and Universities from Indiana (where I came from to Idaho (Marshall "Joe" McFarland) and New Mexico as well as OU graduate, Elbert W. "Joe" Friday. We were fortunate to have direct instruction from Prof. Saucier as well as the rest of the staff he had brought to OU from Texas A. & M. That staff included Professor Yoshi Sasaki who later became my major Professor and mentor through my M.S. and Phd programs at OU. The late Rex Inman, Stan Barnes and Vic Whitehead made up the remainder of the OU meteorology instructors. The latter 3 were all finishing up their PhD's at Texas A&M if my memory serves me correctly. It was a "hands on" program of Professor Saucier as he built the meteorology program. Hands on included physically painting and other modifications to the old wood frame military building on North Campus which housed a class room and offices for all but Professor Saucier who remained in the Physics building on main campus. I lived in a mobile home park on west Brooks street and would ride my bicycle to the main campus in the morning for classes there and to the north campus for afternoon classes. Professor Saucier was a great teacher and took great interest in his students. He had purchased an old sorority house on the edge of campus on Elm Street for his large family which he was extremely proud of. When my first born arrived on November 22, 1961 at Norman Municipal Hospital I was proud to share the news with Professor Saucier. During spring break in 1962, I rode my bicyle carrying my few months old son to the Physics building to proudly show him off to Professor Saucier. He beamed and played with my son. I know that he had to have been not only a great father, but a proud grandpa! When I finished my active duty tour with the Air Force, I wrote to Professor Saucier to see about coming back to OU to finish my M.S. degree. He welcomed me back and provided me with a graduate assistance ship ($225/month). Now, with two children, it certainly was a financial struggle, but we enjoyed our time back at OU. I was extremely fortunate to then have Prof. Sasaki as my major professor who then guided and mentored me through that tour and then back for the PhD in 1970. I would meet Dr. Saucier over the years and always marveled at his energy level and vision. When one considers the programs that he started and the accomplishments of his students, it is likely that he had as great an impact on our field as any other single person. In our class of 11, at least 4 were to obtain their PhD's - Joe Friday - who had an outstanding Air Force career and then became the Director of the National Weather Service helping guide it through the difficult modernization program, Walter Bach who joined Prof. Saucier at N.C. State, Marshall McFarland and myself. A couple of years ago, Dr. Saucier called me to tell me about some new problem he had worked out relative to the upper levels of hurricanes and ask me to review it. I thought it looked solid and passed it on to a senior member of the National Hurricane Research Lab at that time. I suspect that this was to be another modification or addition to his metorological analysis text book that we all used. It just illustrates his continued interest in our field always looking for new problems to solve. I could go on with many other fond memories of Dr. Saucier. He will certainly be missed and had a great impact on my life as well as many others. I offer my deepest condolences to this family.

Bob Sheets - former Director of the National Hurricane Center.

July 20, 2010

Helen, My deepest condolences. I still remember many wonderful social hours at your home on Elm St. in Norman, OK. Also, how you steadfastly stuck by your man all those years of trials and setbacks. Walter was a hard man to know, but once you knew him you never forgot him nor the hard work he endured to "make things happen". His efforts were not always appreciated at the time, but time has a way of bringing things in focus. I will always remember both Walter and you, Helen, for your tireless efforts on behalf of the students.
One of the four at OU Meteorology's beginning:
Stanley L. Barnes

Joseph L. Goldman

July 20, 2010

I offer my condolences to the family of Walter J. Saucier, both his formidable, biological family of relatives and his vast family of students, which he enticed into meteorology and mentored from their beginning, and those many he challenged into meteorology from other physical science disciplines. He was my mentor from the beginning in the Air Force at Bryan AFB in '53, where he had me help with Chapter 10 of the Principia, while he performed his reserve duty, reviewing my analysis techniques and forecasting capability. His guidance that brought me to Texas A&M in '56 to what may have been one of the greatest aggregation of meteorological/physical oceanographic research talent at one institution since WWII, where I had access to some of the leading research and teaching talents from MIT, Cal.Tech., U.of Chicago, Scripps Institute and Woods Hole. His influence directing me to take courses in a broad expance of other science disciplines; Evolution, Celestial Mechanics, Technical Writing, critical thinking, including several specialty courses in mathematics (from Dr. Basey) have all served me to communicate and collaborate with many multidisciplinary professionals. His encouragement, influence and dedication as a teacher kept me on the path of scientific inquiry, discovery and the obligation to publish (inform society of the work,) beginning with my first publication as an undergraduate and continuing throughout my career. He was clearly influential in my invitation to the U. of Chicago research faculty to work with Tetsuya Fujita in '60, where I was inducted into Sigma Xi. Walt ingrained in me the importance of supporting scientific research and promising researchers, and I remained an active participant at the Rice-UT Medical Center Chapter. A stone has been dedicated in Walt's honor at the entrance way of the new Sigma Xi headquarters building in RTP, so that the sun could "rise and set over Walter J. Saucier" as so many of his students have proclaimed through the years.
When he urged me to become a CCM shortly after my Ph.D. in '70 he gave me the research problem of balloon trajectory that he knew I would develop further. I later used that problem development for the programming of the Da Vinci helium balloon flight. I remain one of those students who claims that the sun rises and sets over Walt, and I will be forever grateful for his bringing me into his scientific contribution of making this world of ours a better place.

Calvin Ogburn

July 20, 2010

My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Dr. Saucier. I was a student of his at the Univ. of Oklahoma in the late 1960s and saw him a few times after moving to North Carolina. He was an excellent professor....filled with enthusiasm and love for the field of meteorology...

Gary England

July 20, 2010

Dr. Saucier was a special person in my life at the University of Oklahoma. He became a guiding force in my professional life. The world is a better place because he was allowed time to leave great footprints along the path of life.
Gary England, OU 1965, KWTV-OKC

Allen Weber

July 20, 2010

I'd like to express my condolences to Walter's family. He had a very significant and positive effect on my early career in meteorology. I admired him for his intellect, honesty, hard work, and tenacity. He influenced hundreds of students during his teaching career, and his classes at OU and NCSU are still legendary! He hired many faculty members over the years and helped shape their careers. I was beneficiary to many of his stories about the development of meteorological education in the U.S. He would have been uniquely qualified to write a book on the subject. His contributions to the meteorological profession, including the AMS, were many and noteworthy. His early work on the Certified Consulting Meteorologist program was very significant since the program was languishing at AMS when he became the Committee Head. Walter's accomplishments in starting three major university programs in meteorology are matched by no one else in the country. He will be sadly missed by those he helped over the years.

July 19, 2010

To the Saucier Family:
I am truly indeed sorry to hear of your loss, but as I was looking over some your memories of your father, grandfather, uncle etc,What wondeful memories they are for you to cherish! Keep these memories buried in your hearts and minds and they will indeed bring you a lot comfort in knowing all is well with
his Soul!!!!
I pray that the lord send his comforter down to keep all of you during this season of your lives! Liz Johnson

Jerry Watson

July 19, 2010

My condolences to the Saucier family. I first met Walt in fall 1971 when he interviewed me for a meteorology teaching job at NC State. That January I became the third faculty member to join the 2-year old program (with Walt and Dr. Allen Weber). Walt's association with the US Air Force provided us initially with a source of military students for our undergraduate program. Through the 1970s and '80s, the increasing number of civilian students, the introduction of the M.S. and Ph.D. programs, and the addition of new faculty shaped the future of the meteorology program in both teaching and research. This program-evolution occurred through the foresight and hard work of Prof. Saucier. I feel privileged to have been his colleague for more than 20 years until his retirement.

Chuck Doswell

July 19, 2010

My heartfelt condolences to the family of Prof. Walt Saucier. I only was around him routinely for about 1 year during my graduate studies at OU, but he affected my career in many positive ways during that year and I'm proud to have been his friend for years after that. In your grief over his loss, I hope to make that a little easier to bear by observing that in Walt's time, he made a positive difference in the lives of many, many people whom you likely will never know. His passing is a sad moment for all of us, but we should celebrate the time with him that we had. It was delightful!

John Cudd

July 19, 2010

To the Saucier Family:
On behalf of the NC State University Association of Retired Faculty (ARF), I wish to offer our sympathies and best wishes. Professor Saucier had a tremendous influence on the University and was a valued colleague. Our most sincere condolences are extended to Helen and children.

John Cudd (on behalf of ARF)

July 19, 2010

Janine & Family,
I am so sorry to hear about your father. I'm sure each of you are proud of him and will miss him very much. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Janette Pearce (worked with Janine at Carquest)

Charles/Joslyn Saucier

July 19, 2010

Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Sorry that we can't make it for the funeral. Would have liked to see the family again. Maybe at a better time. We send our love.

Showing 1 - 19 of 19 results