Dr. James Howard Renken

RENKEN Dr. James Howard Renken ascended to heaven on May 26, 2005. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Patricia Cazier Renken; his children, John Renken and wife, Lisa, Stephanie Skaggs and husband, Mike, and Catherine Clemens and companion, Bill Peterson; grandchildren, Elizabeth and Jamie Clemens, Michelle, Jason, and Krista Skaggs, Lauren and Paige Renken; and his sister, June Picciano. He was preceded in death by his parents Howard C. Renken and Evlyne Hinyard Renken. James was born in El Paso, Texas on July 1, 1935. He spent the majority of his youth in Columbus Ohio where he graduated from University School in 1953. He graduated from The Ohio State University with both a bachelor's of science and a master's of science in engineering physics in 1958. He then went to the California Institute of Technology where he received a Ph.D. in experimental nuclear physics in 1963. From 1962 to 1964 he was in the United States Army Signal Corps where he attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant. In 1964, James and his family moved to Albuquerque where he became a member of the technical staff at Sandia National Laboratories. His primary area of work was in radiation transport theory and analysis, radiation effects, and nuclear weapon physics all in support of the US nuclear stockpile. No subject was too complex for his inquisitive and creative mind, and his peers and management readily sought his counsel. He spent the last 17 years of his career in management, enjoying both his colleagues and the technical challenges. He retired from Sandia in1997 after 33 years of service. James loved music and enjoyed playing the clarinet. He continued to play his clarinet with a local chamber music group until the last few months of his life. James was extremely proud of Patricia, his wife; and his children and grandchildren. Moments he shared with his family brought him his greatest joy. Never settling for "good enough," he set exacting standards for himself and others and personally modeled lofty goals for others to aspire to in their professional and personal lives. His wide circle of family and friends will miss him greatly. Services were held on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 at 10 a.m., Central United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.