Danny Stillman

1934 - 2019

Danny Stillman obituary, 1934-2019, Los Alamos, NM

Danny Stillman

1934 - 2019

BORN

1934

DIED

2019

Danny Stillman Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers from Jun. 2 to Jun. 16, 2019.
On Tuesday, May 7, 2019, Danny Stillman, 85, passed away at his home in Colorado.
Danny was born on January 27, 1934, in Salem, OR. He served in the United States Army Security Agency (the military counterpart of the National Security Agency) during the Korean War. He then used his GI Bill to attend college and graduated from the University of Washington with a B.S. degree in Engineering Physics.
Danny had an impressive career including work at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory in Livermore, California, Nevada Test Site, Los Alamos National Laboratory, SAIC, and Galaxy. One of the highlights of Danny's career was being a scientific crewmember of an airborne technical team traveling and working onboard a U.S. Air Force NC-135 aircraft for 10 years. The missions he flew involved monitoring foreign atmospheric nuclear weapon tests, studying aurora phenomena in both the northern and southern polar-regions, studying cosmic ray and air glow activity, observing high-altitude barium releases and plasma injections, and gathering data on other electromagnetic phenomena. Danny served as the Division Leader of the International Technology Division (ITD) for over 13 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory. There he managed a staff performing technological assessments of international and engineering developments throughout the world that were impacting our U.S. National Security interests. As an FBI colleague reminisced, "Danny was the consummate intelligence professional…always inquiring…wondering. He possessed an innate intellectual curiosity that helped unravel many a mystery in his field. I learned a lot from him". Danny prided himself on hiring people "who were smarter than him" and he loved to encourage those around him to pursue their ideas and express their opinions.
Danny received the Director's Public Service Award from the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). He was also awarded the Intelligence Community Seal Medallion from the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He had many contributions to the intelligence field, some of which are documented in a book he co-authored with former Secretary of the Air Force, Thomas C. Reed, "The Nuclear Express – A Political History of the Bomb and its Proliferation". A friend and colleague noted that Danny's "contributions to the security of our country will still be helping our intelligence organizations long after we are all gone and forgotten".
Danny had an infectious smile and was known for being a loyal and trustworthy friend and colleague. He loved his family fiercely, and could always be found in the stands cheering his kids on during their various sporting events. Everybody who knew Danny knew how proud he was of his children and their accomplishments. During retirement, he enjoyed spending time on his back patio watching the airplanes fly by, walking along the golf course hunting for lost golf balls, watching Yankees games with his beloved wife, Ruth, and he always loved the challenge of a good word search. He will forever be remembered as a gentle and loving soul.
Danny was preceded in death by his father, Harley, his mother, Hazel, and sisters Willa and Vale. He is survived by his wife Ruth, children Janette (Tom), Kevin, David (Jenn), and Noelle (Joe), and grandchildren Colin, Patrick, Ellie, Sierra, and Mia.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation at https://www.alzinfo.org.

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

Sign Danny Stillman's Guest Book

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October 7, 2020

John Swegle posted to the memorial.

November 11, 2019

John Browne posted to the memorial.

June 24, 2019

Jack Brownell posted to the memorial.

John Swegle

October 7, 2020

Some years ago when I was working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, I was invited to deliver a series of lectures at the Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics in Beijing. At the end of my week there, I was brought into a room set aside for visitors, and I was left alone briefly, with a guestbook on the table next to me that I had just signed. I flipped through it, to see who else might be in there. I noted Vladimir Fortov, noted Russian physicist and former advisor to Boris Yeltsin, and then I saw Danny's name. It was one of those "Kilroy's been here" moments. OF COURSE, Danny had been there ahead of me. Many thanks to Danny for his years of service.

John Browne

November 11, 2019

Dear Ruth
Marti and I were saddened to hear about Danny's death. We were friends since I joined Los Alamos in 1979 and throughout our journeys as Lab colleagues. We had so many interesting and intriguing ventures over that period. Danny was an original when it came to understanding the world of intelligence. But he was also a loyal friend. We will miss him.
John

Jack Brownell

June 24, 2019

Dear Ruth and family,
When I saw that Danny had passed away, it took a while for me to read the description of his life. I guess that I didn't want to think of his being gone. He was a mentor and a friend to me, and I am so sorry for your loss. Many memories...

Gregg Obbink

June 19, 2019

Ruth and family, So sorry for you loss. Danny was one of the most kind, sincere, and gentle men I have ever met.

June 14, 2019

To Danny's family and friends, please take comfort in each other during this sad time. My deepest sympathies go out to you all.

June 13, 2019

So sorry for your loss. May the God who binds up the broken hearted and comfort all who mourns, sustain you during this difficult time. Isaiah 61:1,2. My sincere sympathy. Arlene NY.

June 11, 2019

Danny was a special person and the planet won't be the same with him gone. My condolences to the family.

LANL J-10 Airplane

John Beardall

June 9, 2019

Here is a photograph of the aircraft in which Danny flew as a scientific crew member just before it was demolished in training fire fighters. It was a proud bird, and I thought Danny's family might like to see how it looked just before its demise.

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Sign Danny Stillman's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

October 7, 2020

John Swegle posted to the memorial.

November 11, 2019

John Browne posted to the memorial.

June 24, 2019

Jack Brownell posted to the memorial.