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Charles Evans Obituary
February 1942 - April 2018
San Carlos, CA
Dr. Charles Andrew Evans, Jr. (Drew) passed away peacefully in Redwood City, CA on Sunday, April 22, 2018. He was born in Harriman, TN, in 1942 to Charles A. Evans and Margaret Johnson Evans. He earned a B.S. in Chemistry and a PhD. in Analytical Chemistry from Cornell University, where he also rowed crew.
Drew was an early giant in the materials science field where he led groundbreaking research in secondary ion mass spectrometry. He mentored budding scientists in both academia and private industry. After receiving his PhD., he was employed by the Kennecott Copper Corporation in Lexington, MA from 1968 to 1970. He headed the analytical chemistry support group at the Materials Science Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1970 to 1978. Drew left Illinois in 1978 to found Charles Evans & Associates (specialists in materials characterization) in San Mateo, CA. Under his direction from 1978 to 1999, Charles Evans & Associates was recognized as the world leader in providing surface and thin film materials characterization with laboratories around the world. Additionally, he chaired the Defense Science Research Council for 17 years.
Drew had a passion for great food, art, French wine, traveling to tropical locations and sailing. His guilty pleasures included 'cop dramas', action movies, ice cream, and tubs of popcorn. He contributed to causes close to his heart, including a physics lab at Sacred Heart High School and sponsoring dogs at Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Survived by his son Christopher A. Evans of Ardmore, PA, daughter Amy (David La Cedra) Evans of San Carlos, CA, his sister Susan (Paul) Vanore and brother Robert J. (April) Evans.
A celebration of Drew's incredible life and legacy will be held at the Lucie Stern Community Center in Palo Alto CA, on Wednesday May 16, 2018 from 12-3pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, CA can be made in Drew's name.
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Memories and Condolences
for Charles Evans
Sponsored by San Jose Mercury News.
2 Entries
J Barry McKinnon
December 24, 2018
A big man, with a Big Heart. A good friend to me over many years. He will be sorely missed. Super company and generous to a fault.
Peter Tarantino
May 5, 2018
I will miss my friend. And the times we shared. Thats what makes memories so unique. They stay with you forever.
Drew was a large man who lived a full and larger life. So long my friend.
CHEERS to a life well lived
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