Thomas Robert Moffette

1926 - 2016

Thomas Robert Moffette June 26, 1926 - April 23, 2016 La Jolla, CA Tom was born in Portland, Oregon. After graduating first in his Class from Benson Polytechnic High School in 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Merchant Marine/USNR Cadet Corps, serving as a Cadet-Midshipman, mostly in the Pacific theatre. He studied Mechanical Engineering at Vanport College (now Portland State U.), then at Oregon State U., where he graduated as First in his Class in the School of Engineering in 1952. He was awarded a fellowship to the Sloan School of Management at MIT, where he received a Master of Science degree in1954. He then joined the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory in Pittsburgh, where Tom pioneered the safety analysis and licensing for Shippingport, the world's first commercial nuclear power plant. He attended CarnegieTech (now Carnegie- Mellon), receiving an M.S. in Nuclear Science, followed by a Post-Graduate course at Oak Ridge (ORSORT).In 1959, Tom joined General Atomic, where for many years he managed the safety analysis and licensing for the nation's first High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGR) designs, followed by a number of other senior assignments, including Manager of Engineering for GA in Japan, and Licensing consultant for Bechtel in Madrid, Spain. After retiring from GA in1985, he consulted for several years for the US nuclear power industry. He was registered as a Professional Mechanical Engineer and as a Professional Nuclear Engineer. He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers since 1954, and the American Nuclear Society since 1958. Tom liked to keep abreast of world and nuclear power news.Tom married the love of his life, Ann Ordeman of Corvallis, Oregon, upon her graduation from Oregon State in 1953. They have four daughters: Diane Hensley (Paul), Caroline Consaul (Lance), Jacqueline Moffette (Jimmi Moshier) and Suzanne Rosser (John). They all live in the San Diego area. There are five grandchildren: Corrine and Carl Hensley, Jasper Blake, and Angela and Jillian Rosser. Tom was a devoted husband and father and loved the frequent family gatherings.Tom and Ann enjoyed ballroom dancing. They also were fans of Dixieland Jazz, travelling with fellow jazz fans on cruises and to Dixieland festivals the world over. At home Tom liked to flower garden, especially with roses. They travelled to Europe, Canada, and California to view famous and unique gardens. Despite all his accomplishments, Tom's greatest joy was his family.