John Marlowe Slater

John "Jack" Marlowe Slater, 71, of Albuquerque, New Mexico passed away on Wednesday, June 12, 2019, surrounded by his loved ones. He was born on January 11, 1948 in Carlinville, Illinois. Jack graduated from Champaign High School in Champaign, Illinois. His teenage years were spent pursuing his interests including the ham radio, photography, and golf. Jack attended Monmouth College in Illinois and graduated in 1970 with a bachelor's degree in physics, as well as participating on the college golf team. Jack then attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, graduating in 1976 with a PhD in atomic physics. Jack was a brilliant, kind, and good-natured man, loyal to his friends and family. He loved to spend time outdoors, including hiking, golf, and cross country skiing. He was impassioned to examine any topic from all angles in order to comprehend it. He was an avid reader of books, some authored by Nobel Laureate physicists, mathematicians and computer scientists. Jack was highly-respected in the field of atomic physics. He began his career managing a Free Electron Laser program at Mathematical Sciences Northwest (MSNW) in Bellevue, Washington. His work paired MSNW with Boeing for research and development of lasers as part of the government-funded STAR WARS program. In 1992, he started work at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in Idaho Falls, Idaho. At INL he managed the physics group, primarily developing sensors for industrial material processing. In 2002, he joined Schafer Corporation's HEL- JTO (High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His role was to provide technical review and advice for the advancement of High Energy Laser development within the Department of Defense (DoD). Over his long career, he was invited to serve on various DoD committees, published approximately thirty technical papers, was awarded four patents based on his work at INL, and represented JTO as a speaker at approximately ten professional meetings. He received the DEPS (Directed Energy Professional Society) Fellowship Award in 2009 for his significant scientific contributions in the field of High Energy Lasers, an award given to people who have made notable and lifelong contributions in the field. Jack expressed his gratitude for the many cherished friendships he developed with other laser scientists over his long career. Jack is survived by his wife of 44 years, Nancy; his children, Matthew Slater of Kent, WA, and Nicole Slater (Matthew Stensrud) of Shawnee, KS; grandchildren, Jackson and Harper Stensrud; and his siblings, Don Slater (Kathleen) of Pasadena, CA, and Susan Garrison (William) of Danville, IL. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Verna and Marlowe Slater of Champaign, IL. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 AM on Sunday, August 4, 2019 at Albuquerque Museum, Ventana Salon, 2000 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, NM. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), a nonprofit dedicated to advancing education pertaining to engineering and allied branches of science and technology (www.asee.org/public/donation/now or www.asee.org). The

"John M. Slater

Scholarship Fund"

is active beginning June

24, 2019.

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

Published by Albuquerque Journal on Jun. 23, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for John Slater

9 Entries

John Del Barga

August 22, 2019

Jack was my boss at Schafer Corporation. One of the best bosses I have had and one of the kindest people I have met in my life. He will be missed.

Brian Strickland

August 6, 2019

Jack was my good friend and I will miss him greatly.

Kem & Sylvie Robinson

August 4, 2019

Jack was an exceptional individual in his interests, curiosity and insights. He had a unique style of being self effacing at the same time as asking the most pointed and probing questions. Jack hired me fresh out of my graduate work on free-electron lasers. He remained my supervisor until he left STI. He quickly became a friend after I joined STI. Jack's interests were wide ranging and our visits to him and his family always were an opportunity to learn a string of pearls of knowledge. He delighted in not just learning, but experimenting. I remember him describing developing his own spell checker on one of the first personal computers (I believe it was an Apple II) and also developing a successful aquatic plant culture starting with distilled water. Much later, he would discuss the intricacies of bitcoin with me. He was dedicated to Nancy and his family. Sylvie and I will miss him, and as others have said, our lives have been richer for having the honor of knowing him. Our hearts and thoughts go out to Nancy and Jack's family at this time.

Debbie and Reiner Jargosch

July 9, 2019

A loving tribute to a good man and a life well-lived. We miss you, Jack. Rest in peace.

C. L.

June 29, 2019

I got to know Jack as a colleague in the HEL community. It was always a pleasure talking with him and I always learned something new. His gentle and kind sole was a pleasure to be around. I wish I had gotten to know him better.

June 25, 2019

I am honored to have had Jack in my family. He was one of those rare individuals who through his giftedness viewed the world in a different realm, was transparent in his ability to touch others and compassionate for both his fellow man and the smallest of creatures. He was a blessing to have known through life's celebrations and its deepest sorrows. Lorraine Row Pratt

Bob Gellert

June 24, 2019

I can only echo what has already been said. Jack was a brilliant, kind, and good-natured man. He hired me in 1983 to work on many of the fascinating laser programs at MSNW (which became Spectra Technology, Inc. in 1983). In my lifetime (I'm now 81) Jack is one of the most memorable people I've ever met. His brilliance, charm and good nature were immediately visible on our first meeting. Having knowing him during my time at STI still brings a smile to my heart whenever I think of him. I KNOW we'll meet again.

June 23, 2019

My sincere condolences for your loss. May God fulfill his promise to bind up the broken-hearted and help you endure this difficult time. Isa 61:1

A. M.

June 23, 2019

My sympathy goes out to the family during your time of grief. May God's loving-kindness comfort you and help you through this difficult time. (Psalm 119:50,76)

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