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BORN
1926
DIED
2014
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George Morgenthaler Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for George Morgenthaler
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Fred Luebke
April 27, 2015
George and I were classmates in high school in River Forest, Ill. George had the reputation of being the brightest in the class. Since those school days, I visited George and Luella (and children) once in the Denver area when,in 1968, I taught American history in summer session at the University of Denver. He was as impressive as ever--as was Luella, who was also a high school classmate.
Ivan Jaszlics
December 28, 2014
George was a magnificent, intelligent example to follow. I have learned much from him. Thank you, and God bless you!
September 20, 2014
I'm a Belgian space enthusiast who met Dr. Morgenthaler for the first time during a space conference in China in 1987. He was a wonderful man whom I had the honour of meeting several more times in the course of meetings of the International Astronautical Academy/Federation, and I was looking forward to greeting him again in Toronto this October. He will be sorely missed.
Philippe Cosyn
Jim Kirkpatrick
September 12, 2014
George was a loyal and much valued member of the American Astronautical Society for over 50 years, and served as president in the 1960's. He served in other positions and on the AAS Board until 2005, and I have many fond memories of working with George. He was brilliant man - and a very good person.
Byoungsoo Kim
September 12, 2014
George Morgenthaler was an advisor to me in my PhD works in the Univ. of Colorado at Boulder from 2000 till 2002. He guided and supported me with his whole heart and soul. He always showed what a scholar is and should be. He was a scholar of integrity. I still remember his enthusiasm and efforts to manage his works during those times in Boulder.
George and Luella are like my parents in Christ. They shared their faith in God by lives with us and showed us what the faith is. When I was baptized in 2001, they showed themselves and gave me five stones, explaining what meaning the 5 stones have and asking me to keep the meaning for my whole life in Christ. I am keeping the 5 stones with me and the meaning in my heart. When I married in 2002, they gave me a letter and asked me to read while flying to Seoul for wedding. In the letter they said how happy they are to have me as their son in Christ, which made me really happy. When I got back to Boulder with my wife, they invited my Korean friends in Colorado and hosted a wedding party for us, which was a really happy surprise. Many Koreans in Boulder remember the party and are still saying something of George and Luella with the party. My two boys, Woojoo and Pyoungahn, met them in Fukuoka, Japan in 2005 and in Boulder in 2010. They were and are happy to know that they have grand-parents in US. They are good grand-parents to them, playing together at kids' viewpoints. They are such a great grand-parents!
How can I express all the great and wonderful times George and Luella have with us? Their loves to our family was, is and will be with us forever. We will miss him greatly. Our prayers to Luella and all her families.
Steve Jolly
September 11, 2014
George will be sorely missed by the Jolly family. He was a mentor and brother-in-Christ to myself and Bonnie. He was my PhD advisor in the 90's and close friend for all these years. His personal testimony and the way he conducted himself led me to Christ and changed my life forever. His positive impact on our Aerospace community, Academia, and most importantly the personal lives of so many students and peers cannot be underestimated. I look forward to seeing him again. Our condolences and prayers to Luella and all the children and grandchildren and great grandchildren at this terrible loss. Steve Jolly, Lockheed Martin
Dale Fester
September 11, 2014
Luella, How can I ever thank you and George for all of the great times we had with the International Astronautical Congresses. I first met George in 1964 at Martin Marietta when he was Director of Research and Technology. I was managing my first NASA contract and ran into problems. In meeting with George, he helped me to continue in fine fashion. I met with him many times after that and was always appreciative of his genuine concern and help. I saw him a few times after that through the years until we met again when he was at CU. We worked together on the Health Sciences program with CU, Martin, the University of Rochester and NASA. As an outcome of that, I authored a paper with George and Carolyn Cooley of Martin for the Academy Man-in-Space meeting in Cologne. Next on the Mars Exploration Committee of the International Astronautical Academy. With Elinore, we met for dinner at your home when Contants came to visit us. George was leading the Mars study and how I enjoyed the association with him, later becoming the secretary of the continuing studies. We always met in Paris in the spring to plan the Congresses and that was another enjoyable time. I fondly remember our meetings for excursions, dinners, and our conversations when we always met at the Congresses. George was a great compatriot and I always liked and greatly respected him and you too.
Joseph Pelton
September 11, 2014
George Morgenthaler was a mentor, expect advisor to me on how to win research proposals and a friend. He also literally saved my life in Vienna, Austria over 15 years ago. As Dean of the International Space University, I invited George to come to Vienna to teach during out summer sessions in Vienna. He not only came and gave a number of brilliant lectures to the 140 students assembled from around the world, but also insisted on taking me to the local hospital when I was experiencing extreme abdominal pain. This I later found was a consequence of an operation that I had had at the Univ. of Colorado Denver Hospital Center 2 months before. After an emergency repair at the Vienna, Austria hospital center, George and I were informed that had we waited a few more hours--as had been my intention, I would have been dead. George's quick thinking and action saved my life and let me go on to finish my terms as Dean of the International Space University, write some 20 books on space, technology, urban planning and futurism and teach hundreds of students in Europe and at George Washington University in DC. The world at large and I personally owe him a great debt. He was a true friend and a literal saviour in my time of need in a foreign land. My wife Eloise and I have a debt that I was never ever to repay. We will miss him greatly. JOe and Eloise Pelton, Arlington, Virginia (written in Cardiff, Wales as we celebrate our 49th wedding anniversary Sept 10, 2014
George Angleton
September 10, 2014
In the summers of 1962-63 I was employed at Martin Marietta, Denver in the Operations Research Group head by George Mortenthaler. It was avery rewarding experience, both professionally and personally. George was an entergetic leader with positive follow-thru. I regret not having continued interactions with him and my co-workers. I am a retired professor of Biometrics and Radiation Physics from Colorado State Univeristy and I am also 87 years of age.
September 10, 2014
I only met George once but he was very impressive. Friends of mine who worked with him at Martin said that he was a genius and a visionary. My condolences to Luella.
Beth Murphy
Peter Bainum
September 10, 2014
I am very sad to hear the news about George's passing on, my condolences to his family.
Sincerely,
Peter Bainum
Stein Sture
September 10, 2014
To Luella and the family of George W. Morgenthaler,
I first met George in 1973, when he taught an evening class on operations research at the CU extension program in Denver, and we maintained contact or worked closely together until the time he retired on a number of important research and development initiatives, including the NASA-sponsored Center for Space Construction at the university, the Colorado Super-Conducting Collider, physics high energy experimental facility proposal. George was always the enthusiastic, tireless and insightful leader of all the endeavors that he applied his talents to. He was a great supporter of the university and helped get space science and aerospace engineering research underway and lift it to the next level. He was always a cheerful team leader and player. He will be dearly missed.
Stein Sture, PhD
Vice Chancellor for Research
Huber and Helen Croft Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Linda Fromholzer
September 9, 2014
A firm handshake, a glorious smile and a funny little joke will surely be missed greatly and remembered fondly.
Ruth Falkenstein
September 9, 2014
The Morgenthaler family gave tremendous positive influence to the Littleton school district, especially Littleton High School where I worked as a counselor with the boys. We were all "younger" then and I could have been easily intimidated by Dr. Morgenthaler from Martin Marietta but I was encouraged by his supportive efforts in building the Advanced Placement Program for gifted students. He taught AP Physics to high school students to prove their abilities were both mature and capable for mastery of a difficult subject. Sincere sympathy to all the family!!
Randolph 'Stick' Ware
September 9, 2014
George was an extremely creative, optimistic force who knew how to get things done. I heard him referred to in a very positive sense as a stick of dynamite with a 6 inch fuse. It was a privilege to have known him and worked with him. We should all strive to carry forward the legacies that he so capably created and advanced.
Sherry Snyder
September 9, 2014
I will remember George as a tireless faculty member who always went the extra mile for students. He loved students !! George was a lot of fun and managed to keep several staff members busy at one time doing things for him !! He always took time to say hi and ask how you were doing.
Sherry Snyder (Louisville, CO)
Gary Bardsley
September 9, 2014
George was a man of tireless energy and vision. His dynamic and innovative approach to problem solving was refreshing and stimulating. It was inspiring to work with this fine man on projects and observe his dedication to results and excellence.
Daisy Pettem
September 9, 2014
George & Luella were our neighbors for 8 years. I remember George would always make my son laugh when he would "pull his thumb off". After Geroge & Luella moved to Littleton, I bought their house. We love the murals inside and living on the lake.
James Sherman
September 9, 2014
I have fond and enduring memories of George Morgenthaler as a person and faculty member. He was a life-long scholar with diverse academic and personal interests, student focused and an educator at heart. I also remember George as a man devoted to his faith and very active in the campus Faculty-Staff Christian Group. A wonderful man who leaves behind a legacy for the University, the College and the Aerospace Department.
Bob Horner
September 8, 2014
Just no one like George Morgenthaler! I am a CU engineering grad but never had the privilege of studying under Dr. Morgenthaler. However, I was always learning from George as a friend and a fellow follower of Jesus Chris. His brilliance and his kindness were a strange mix which I'm sure are from his God-given gifting. And there is Luella. How given to George is his wonderful wife of so many years. Always a compliment to added bit of insight in anything she saw or heard from me. I love you both.
Lynell Reed
September 8, 2014
I will always remember George as a godly, moral, brilliant and fun-loving man. He was always ready with a joke and he never failed to make me laugh. There are many things that were special about George but the one that is extra special to me is when he prayed with my husband before he underwent some serious eye surgery. There was nothing anyone could have done that would have meant more to both of us.
I know George is in Heaven now and having a great time, but he will be missed.
September 8, 2014
I was in my 50's when George hired me as Graduate Secretary for the Dept. of Engineering. It was up to him to make the choice of the applicants and I was the last one he interviewed. During the interview, he kept getting up and leaving the office and coming back and asking me more questions. Finally, he asked what I thought of him. All I could think of was that he reminded me of a whirlwind that kept spinning in and out of the office. All the way home, I thought I really blew it and months later, he told me that was a true statement and one reason he hired me. We became friends and I will always be grateful to him because that job was one of my best life experiences.
My condolences to the family, I was fortunate to have known him.
Rae Joanne (Boggs) Melin
Charbel Farhat
September 8, 2014
George gave me many great things:
He gave me my first job, when he hired me as an Assistant Professor
in the Department of Aerospace Engineering Science at CU Boulder. He also gave
me his friendship, which I have always treasured. After I got married, he
became a good friend of my wife, Francoise. I will never forget the dinner he
and Luela invited us to a few weeks after our wedding, and all the precious
advices he gave us on that evening. During the 17 years I have spent in
Colorado, I sought his help on several occasions, for both professional and
extended family matters. He has always helped, enthusiastically. For the last
ten years, I have thought of him every day I drove past the Morgenthaler sign
on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park. And only two days ago, I have quoted him
during an important meeting I had in Paris, France.
George, I was never very good at saying it loudly, but Thank You. I just
realize how deep is the impact you have had on me. You will always be in my
thoughts.
Charbel
Palo Alto, CA
Jeff Forbes
September 8, 2014
George's energy and enthusiasm was an inspiration to us here in the Aerospace Department at the University of Colorado. I loved his intensity.
Ed Arguello
September 7, 2014
George was an exceptional person and a joy to know in the years we spent together in the Gideon ministry.
In Christ,
Ed
September 7, 2014
As of Thursday evening, George has joined his parents and brother (my first husband) in his promotion to heaven. They are having a delightful conversation, and George is in the middle of it all. And the best part is that he gets to see Jesus face to face!.............................................Shirley
Carol Wilsey
September 7, 2014
Cynthie and Peter, I was sorry to read about your loss in the paper this morning. From the picture of your grandfather I can see the likeness to you, Peter, and to your dad. I guess the math is in your genes too.
I miss seeing both of you over at Red Rocks.
September 7, 2014
George was a great leader. He inspired me and many others to our success at Martin. Reid Clausen
Sherry Patten
September 7, 2014
George was the director of the State of Colorado's bid for the Super Conducting Super Collider. We had a large team of engineers as well as PR and Public Affairs professionals to prepare the bid which was to bring the $3 Billion underground tunnel to the plains east of what is now DIA. George and I started off our relationship on shaky grounds. I was doing the PR and Public Affairs piece that I thought he didn't value since his focus was on the details of the underground tunnel and it's workability for Colorado. After a few months, he and I collided. In that process and in working with him afterward, I found him to be a wonderful man with boundless enthusiasm and caring for me and the other members of the team. I used to call him occasionally in the years after that to check in. He was always gracious and happy to hear from me. He was an unforgettable man.
September 7, 2014
Luella,
We grew to know and love all the residents and their families at Morningstar. George was no exception. Your devotion to him and caring for him was beautiful to watch. This brings back memories of April for me and your kind words and gestures for us during that difficult time. Now it is your time to grieve. May there be many who will help you as you helped us.
Mary Ann Rhode, daughter of Doris Sourwine
Zwi Rosenstein
September 7, 2014
Dr George was my Probability and Statistics prof at CU ~ 42-43 years ago.
Dr George had such an infectious enthusiasm to teach a very challenging subject,
that he managed to make Probability and Statistics easy to understand and grasp.
Dr George taught the class because he felt that P&S was as important in daily life
as well as in science and technology advancement.
Dr George was a great teacher!
September 7, 2014
We will miss and never forget you Uncle George...godspeed. Deb Edwards
Gene & Dee Dee Emmons
September 7, 2014
Easy to meet, easy to like, always a "people person," George is missed, never forgotten.
September 6, 2014
George was one of the most intelligent and helpful people I ever knew. He was an inspiration to us.
Bud Hebeler
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