Dr. Hans-Christian Pfeiffer

1937 - 2022

On November 15, 2022, the world lost an inspired scientist and loving family member. Dr. Hans-Christian Pfeiffer (85) peacefully passed away from stroke complications at his home in Carmel Valley with his two sons at his side. The only child of Margarete and Hans Pfeiffer, Dr. Hans-Christian Pfeiffer was born in Krumhermsdorf, Germany, on January 7, 1937. As WWII raged throughout Europe, Hans-Christian spent a great deal of his childhood enduring the terrible atrocities of war. His ninth birthday marked the final time Hans-Christian would see his own father, who was imprisoned and killed by the invading Soviet army—an unimaginably painful experience that shaped the evolution of a boy into a deeply complex, aspirational, and loving man.Barely a teenager, Hans-Christian left his adopted hometown of Markneukirchen and his family in 1951 to begin his studies at boarding school in West Berlin, where he quickly excelled. Gifted and determined, Hans-Christian studied at the esteemed Berlin Institute of Technology and, in 1967, earned his Ph.D. in Physics. The following year, he married the love of his life, Franziska John, and the couple immigrated to the US, where Hans would embark on fatherhood and a storied career in electron-beam lithography with IBM in Silicon Valley and later in Fishkill, NY. After several years in Westchester County, New York, Hans-Christian and Franziska settled down in Ridgefield, CT, and welcomed the birth of two boys, Alexander and Sebastian. Throughout his impressive 35-year career at IBM, Dr. Pfeiffer made significant scientific contributions and is credited with the invention of multiple patents stemming from his pioneering research on shaped-beam lithography systems. In 1985, IBM awarded him with the rank of IBM Fellow, the highest honor a scientist, engineer, or programmer can achieve. Shortly after the death of his dear mother, Margarete, in 2001, at the age of 99, Dr. Pfeiffer made the decision to retire from IBM in 2002. He then went on to fulfill a life-long dream to return to the Bay Area by relocating to Monterey, CA. However, as an expert in the field of e-beam lithography, it was not long before opportunities to consult with technology companies around the world led to exciting partnerships and dazzling new experiences that ultimately postponed retirement for another fifteen years in 2017, at the age of 80.Hans-Christian was a passionate traveler visiting six continents over the course of his life. He often cited Hawaii, Fiji, Acapulco, and Tanzania as favorite destinations, but a nostalgic love of nature led to repeated trips to Yosemite and The Alps. Hans-Christian was a true fan of German sports cars and jazz music (Boogie Woogie), attending Formula 1 races and jazz festivals well into his 80s. Dr. Pfeiffer is survived by his sons, who he loved and adored, Alexander and Sebastian, their wives, Nancy and Anne, and grandchildren Kiki (12), Alexander (16), and Archibald (5). At his request, no formal funeral or ceremony for Dr. Pfeiffer will be held, however, his immediate family members will fulfill his wish to have his ashes scattered at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Big Sur, CA.