David Eugene Knittle

David Eugene Knittle 75, passed away suddenly at his son's home in San Jose on May 18. Born in Detroit, Michigan May 17, 1934, "Dave" grew up in Detroit and graduated from the University of Michigan as a Phi Beta Kappa. As a boy he had victory garden, he worked and rode on the railroads of post-war America and he owned a succession of sports cars, including a '61 Triumph that remains in the family today. After obtaining a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida, he spent his early career traveling and working in Europe and also attended the Nils Bohr Institute in Copenhagen. In 1967 he returned to the United States with a Swedish wife and an infant daughter. He spent most of his career working on the Space program and heat transfer projects for satellites. In 1978, he moved to the Almaden Valley with his family where he lived until his death. He loved rambling road trips and camping in Yosemite where he and his family enjoyed many memorable adventures, including close encounters with bats and bears. After retirement he and his inseparable faithful companion, Jasper, a red merle Australian Cattledog, took daily long walks in many of Almaden's parks. He also had a life long love of travel and enjoyed exploring the natural beauty of the Sierras. He is survived by his children, Anna Glynne of La Jolla, James Knittle of San Jose, Desiree Deshpande of Fremont, and his two beloved granddaughters. Private memorial arrangements have been made.