James LaPrade

LaPRADE
James Nicholas, died March 8, 2012. He is survived by father J. Wallace LaPrade and stepmother Suzanne LaPrade, Lexington, VA; wife Melissa, sons Matthew, Jeffery, daughter Michelle, CA; sisters Anne and Liz, Durham, NC, brother Douglas, NYC, stepbrother Peter Farrell, Monument CO. He was a graduate of Tenafly High School and an Eagle Scout. He received an EE degree from Virginia Tech and a masters degree in Electrical Engineering from Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA. He was awarded the David Sarnoff medal for Outstanding Technical Achievement in Solid State Power Amplifiers while with RCA ASTRO in Princeton, NJ. Nick moved from ASTRO to Fairchild in Gaithersburg, MD; then to Orbital Science Corp; from there to Space Systems Loral, Palo Alto, CA in 1966. He received a number of patents and presented many technical papers during his 34 year membership in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. A celebration of Nick's life will be held on March 31, 2012 at 2 PM at Ramos Rios Winery, 8458 W Linne Rd. Tracy CA. A memorial ceremony and interment will be held at the First Presbyterian Church Englewood NJ on April 11, 2012 at 11:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Multiple Sclerosis Society in his name.