John L. Bogdanoff

John L. Bogdanoff, Purdue University Engineering Professor 87, died July 19, 2003 at George Davis Manor in West Lafayette. John "Jack" was born the second son of Paul and Louise Bogdanoff in East Orange, New Jersey and grew up in Baldwinsville, New York. He earned a Bachelors Degree from Syracuse University in 1938, a Masters Degree from Harvard University in 1939. During WWII, Jack was a Test Engineer in Engine Performance Section at Wright Aeronautical and Assistant Project Engineer in Vibration and Stress Analysis Section and in Advance Design Section. He met his life long friends, Alex and Sue Orden and Joe and Evelyn Modrey and wife of 45 years, Ruth Bogdanoff while working at Wright Aeronautical. In 1950 he earned a Doctorate from Columbia University. After graduating from Columbia he moved his family to Purdue University and joined the Engineering Department. Jack spent his teaching career at Purdue University where he was head of Aeronautics, Astronautics and Engineering Sciences from 1971-72. He consulted for several companies and governmental agencies. Jack was noted for his numerous publications in the fields of Structural Vibration, Engineering Seismology, Applied Stochastic Process, Cumulative Damage Theories and Fatigue Ware. He was a pioneer in introducing stochastic methods of analysis in solving engineering problems and was an international authority in this field. He was also active in the areas of theoretical and applied mechanics and has made significant contributions in structural vibrations, vehicle dynamics and engineering seismology. In 1971 John was elevated to the grade of Fellow in the American Society of Mechanical Engineering. Professor Bogdanoff has won the honor for "Outstanding Contributions in Engineering as an Administrator, Research Scientist and Teacher". Dr. Bogdanoff was elected to membership in 1975 to the National Academy of Engineering, which is the highest professional distinction that can be conferred upon an American engineer. Election to the academy honors those who have made important contributions to engineering theory and practices or who have demonstrated unusual accomplishments in the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology. Jack enjoyed seeing the world with his wife and family and was an avid reader. He loved to see his family and students succeed and cookouts in the country with his friends. John is survived by his loving granddaughter, Aleksa Bogdanoff; daughter-in-law, Melissa Henderson; daughter, Sue Cole; son, Paul Bogdanoff; and close and special friends, Joe and Evelyn Modrey, Dot Goldberg, Lou and Lillian Cote, Cynthia Kozin, Bob Naka, Alex Orden, Roy Whistler and Jim and Carol Alleman. Memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. August 23 in Purdue Memorial Union, Room 118. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Community Ventures in Living, LTD, 401 South Earl Avenue, Suite 2A, Lafayette, IN 47904-3265 or the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University, 315 N. Grant St., West Lafayette, IN 47907-2023. Arrangements: Soller-Baker Funeral Home, Lafayette, IN. www.soller-baker.com