Leslie Girton Jerde

Leslie Girton Jerde Passed away on October 27th, 2007. Les was born on September 18th, 1942 in San Pedro, California. He was the son of Howard Jerde and Wilma Girton Jerde. Les grew up in Brookings, South Dakota, where he earned his bachelor's degree at South Dakota State University. He served as a Captain in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. After the war, Les earned his Ph.D. in 1977 in plasma physics at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. Upon graduation, Les worked with Lucent Technologies in Princeton, New Jersey, and then with Sematech, an industry-government technology consortium in Austin, Texas. He also served as Director of Operations with Tegal Corporation in Petaluma. During his career, Les developed several patented methods related to the fabrication of semiconductors. Upon retiring from Tegal, Les served as a professor of Physics at Dominican University of California in San Rafael. Les is survived by his wife, Laongthip Jerde, his daughters, Pamela Kalinski and Victoria Jerde, his grandsons, Jackson and Lucas Kalinski, and his sisters, Lois Halvorsen and Patty Knutson. Les will be deeply missed by his family. Services will be held on Monday, November 12th, 10:00 a.m. at Keaton's Redwood Chapel of Marin in Novato. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be sent to the University of Kentucky Women's Club Scholarship Fund, c/o Mrs. Davis Gardner, 175 Idle Hour Drive, Lexington, KY 40502-1101. Please make checks payable to "UKWC Scholarship Fund."