John Franklin Alexander Jr.

ALEXANDER, JOHN FRANKLIN, JR.

Gainesville, FL - John Franklin Alexander, Jr., age 66, of Gainesville, FL died Friday afternoon, November 6th at the Shands Cancer Hospital, Bone Marrow Unit, Gainesville, FL. He had been diagnosed earlier with Aplastic Anemia. He was a much loved husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

He is survived by his wife Marjorie and four children: Miriam Elizabeth Alexander Moore (Peter). John Franklin Alexander, III (Carmela), Sarah McGinty Warren (James) and Grover Ley Alexander (Jennifer). He is also survived by six grandchildren: Matthew, Andrew, Hannah, Christopher, Abigayle and Jonathan.

He was born January 26, 1943 in Tallahassee, FL. In his senior year of high school he was runner up in the National Science Fair. He earned two degrees in Engineering Science from Florida State University: in 1965 a Bachelor of Science Degree and in 1971 a Master of Science Degree. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in 1978, in Environmental Engineering Science from the University of Florida.

John was a gifted teacher and he brought his love of teaching to each endeavor he pursued. "I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that they are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit" John Steinbeck.

He was a Distinguished Research Professor, University of North Florida (UNF), Electrical Engineering Department from 1999 - 2004, and a Professor of Urban and Regional Planning (URP) at the University of Florida from 1975 - 1999. He was named as a URP Professor Emeritus in 2007.

He received the Florida Engineering Society 2003 Outstanding Technical Achievement Award for development of the Geographic Data Manager. He was named as UNF Engineering Professor of the year in 2002 and he held four U.S. patents.

At the time of his death he was the Vice President of Tetracam, Inc. (a digital camera and imaging hardware and software Design Company). He was a founding company board member and Director of the Tetracam, Inc., Gainesville, FL Research and Development Office. In addition to digital imaging, the office is responsible for developing embedded GPS, digital mapping, and wireless communication hardware and software.

John was also an inventor and an avid Remote Control (RC) Airplane builder and flyer. When he talked about his inventions his eyes would twinkle and his enthusiasm would be contagious. He loved to share his planes with grandchildren and other children. His latest project was developing a camera that could ride in a RC plane and take pictures of crops that would indicate crop conditions. He and his wife, Marjorie, liked to travel and during the last few years he enjoyed travel adventures and solving engineering puzzles.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, November 12, at 10:00 AM at Trinity United Methodist Church, 4000 NW 53rd Avenue, Gainesville, FL. A reception will be held after the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in John's honor to The John F. Alexander, Jr. Mission Fund of Trinity United Methodist church. He had a "heart" for missions. In 1976, after an earthquake in Guatemala, he led a team that developed a plan to rebuild a town destroyed by the quake. He also participated in project to help people devastated by Hurricane Andrew, and by Hurricanes that hit the Florida Panhandle in the 1990s. Several of his inventions were inspired by working with communities impacted by natural disasters.

Arrangements are under the care of Forest Meadows Funeral Home. Please sign the guestbook at www.forestmeadowsfh.com.