About
Jay Kumler Obituary
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Jay grew up mostly in his birthplace of Columbus, OH, but also spent three formative years in Brussels, Belgium (a time later immortalized in the "Petey from Muskeety" stories he would tell to his children). Along with his father and brothers, Jay was active in the Boy Scouts of America, where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout and the nickname "Trailblazer" for the multi-day hikes and canoe trips he would lead. Jay's love for the outdoors never dimmed, though he was not a wilderness canoe guide forever, he made summers in Montana a Kumler family tradition.
In his professional life, Jay was a pillar of the optics and photonics industry. He designed optical systems for United Technologies and Bell Laboratories prior to founding Coastal Optical Systems in 1991, which he led for ten years before the company was acquired by Jenoptik, a global technology group operating in the photonics market, where Jay last served as President of JENOPTIK North America.
With nearly 40 years of experience in optics and photonics, Jay published 20 technical papers, book chapters and patents. He regularly spoke on photonics and was passionate about advancing the industry. Jay was especially proud of his contributions to the Hubble Telescope, Perseverance Mars Rover, and the X Taara wireless internet terminal, which was named a Time Magazine "Best Invention of 2024."
Jay was an SPIE Fellow, served on the SPIE board of directors and was a founding sponsor of the SPIE Startup Challenge. He also served on the Advisory Board of the Luminate Accelerator and loved to mentor younger optical engineers and entrepreneurs. Renowned for these achievements, Jay was still best known by his colleagues and employees for his honorable leadership, generosity and trustworthiness. He took mentorship seriously and took pride in giving people their first opportunities in the field. Amid all these accomplishments, Jay had some fun at work too: He organized many pick-up basketball games and participated in the office fantasy football league.
Jay met his beloved wife Tammy in French class at Miami University in 1982. They were only eighteen when their love story began. Married on September 24, 1988, they built a life filled with love, laughter, and lots of shared adventures. Jay and Tammy traveled the world together. From the shores of Greece to the city streets of Istanbul, their love grew deeper with every city they visited. Jay and Tammy had over 40 beautiful years together.
Jay was a dedicated father to Josh and Steph and a doting grandfather to Cara and Terry Jay, his namesake. While his kids grew up, Jay wore many different hats including a basketball coach, a youth group leader, a late-night ice cream confidant and so much more. Even as hard as he worked, he could always be found on the sidelines at Steph's games, the audience of Josh's shows, and the dinner table for family meals. Jay took time to dream big with his kids at various crossroads in their life, always instilling the values of generosity and service in his fatherly advice. Jay's love extended deeply to Carlee and Meredith Kumler, his favorite daughters-in-law. Jay's love for his family was truly evident in everything he did, from attending Dolphins games and updating the family group chat with selfies, to supporting local musicians with Tammy and always reading (and re-reading) his grandchildren their favorite books (including one he wrote).
Jay was a member of Family Church, formerly Palm Beach Community Church, for over 35 years. Jay not only claimed his faith but lived it out daily, embodying Micah 6:8 by acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with his God.
Jay is survived by his wife Tamara; his son, Joshua (Carlee) Kumler; his daughter, Steph (Meredith) Kumler; his mother, Kathryn Kumler; two grandchildren, Cara Joy and Terry Jay; his sister, Karen Freeman; and his brothers, Joe and Michael (Laura) Kumler. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Kumler.
In celebration of Jay's life, we invite those who knew him to share their memories and upload photos to his memorial page. Services will be held at Family Church Gardens, 4901 PGA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418, on Saturday, March 8th at 10:00AM and a service in Cincinnati, OH on March 22nd (more details to come). In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his honor to SPIE (https://spie.org/about-spie/donate-to-spie) and the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (https://bcan.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate/).
Jay's adventurous spirit, loving nature, brilliant mind, and dedicated heart have left a lasting impact on all who knew him. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of those who loved him.
Click this link to visit Jay's Personal Remembrance Page to share your cherished memories and upload photos of your time with him.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
ERIK LARSEN
February 28, 2025
Always a gentleman!
D'nardo Colucci
February 21, 2025
This world has just lost a great person.
While I met Jay professionally, over the years of working together we'd become friends. We've stayed at each other's houses (thanks Tammy) and talked an awful lot about canoeing and the outdoors.
I always admired Jay's calm, caring demeaner which he showed personally and professionally. In the late 90s, our company was not as successful as Coastal and often struggled to pay our bills on time. Jay was instrumental in allowing us to pay as we could. That generosity is a big reason why we are thriving today.
When Coastal became JenOptik, our companies parted ways. In my last conversation with Jay, I said to him "I feel like I'm losing a friend". It makes me cry to think of that now.
Tammy, Josh and Steph I know this is a really hard time for you. All I can do is remind you to take comfort in the years you had with Jay. In the end, you will come to realize how fortunate you really are.
D'nardo Colucci
The Elumenati
Jim Adams
February 19, 2025
I first met Jay (we called him JJ) in Scouts. I was just finding my confidence in the outdoors and JJ was already leading weekend trips into the woods. His quiet leadership drew me in while he occasionally benefitted from my outspoken support of his direction. As we experienced adventures, we grew to enjoy the hard days of hiking, canoeing and biking, always knowing campfire discussions and a little harmonica would end the night. I out last year, JJ organized a 12-day, 120 mile hike on a section of the Appalachian Trail for a group of 6 senior Scouts. We reduced the weight of our backpacks in every way possible. JJ even drilled tiny holes in the handle of his short toothbrush! It was one of the most formative experiences of my life. The beauty and challenge of The Trail experience by a band of men-to-be, was only possible because of the vision and passion of JJ.
After Scouts we knew our lives would be spent mostly apart. We met in the summers of college and later when business trips had us in the vicinity. We kept in touch and I was honored to have JJ in my wedding party.
In the past few years we caught up a bit. JJ knew the cancer was having another go at him, but still he smiled and chuckled and kept living.
Of all the gifts he gave, JJ helped me find my feet in the woods. I've since grown to backpack and hunt in the Rocky Mountains and spend many days camping with my family. It is my happy place.
Although Jackson Brown reminded us that the time that seems to short is the time the we get to play, I know someday soon, we sit around that holy campfire together.
Golshan Coleiny
February 19, 2025
It is hard to believe that he is gone, my deep condolences to Kumler families and friends.
Golshan
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Mel Kantor
February 17, 2025
I purchased Tower Optical Corp almost 30 years ago. Jay was the first person in the industry to call and welcome me. Over the years I always looked up to Jay for his knowledge, kindness and gentile demeaner. He was always a source help and guidance. He was a very special guy. His passing is a great loss to the Photonics industry.
I would like extend my deepest condolences to his family.
Mel Kantor - Tower Optical Corp. (Retired)
Eugene Arthurs
February 17, 2025
I find it difficult to come to terms with the loss of Jay, and cannot hope to grasp what a cruel blow this is to the family which meant so much to him. I was in many SPIE meetings with Jay and had many conversations with him and he was mostly serious and soft spoken as he provided constructive suggestions for the Society and the optics community it serves. But he lit up in remarkable fashion when the topic of his family came up. It was easy to see where his priority lay in life.
Jay was an enthusiastic supporter of young people in the field. He had his own significant history of success in the optics industry, but he put considerable energy into trying to make others succeed, not for any personal advantage but because that is who he was.
I know that I am better for having encountered this remarkable kind and so competent individual, and that SPIE benefitted from his diligent and unselfish participation.
I offer my sincere sympathy to the family that was so precious to him and would like them to know that he was loved and appreciated by many in our community.
Eugene G. Arthurs
Former CEO of SPIE
Gary & Billie Blough
February 13, 2025
To the entire Kumler family:
Jay will be missed by soo many. He has so many professional friends, neighborhood friends, church friends, college friends, even some high school friends and many more he touched along the journey of his life. I first remember him and Tammy at Jay and Gary's basketball games at the U of R. Tammy and I would have some great chats while Gary and Jay played their butts off. Then they graduated and Jay and Tammy moved to Florida. Where was Gary's bachelor party but in Florida at Jay and Tammy's. Great fun was had and a wall was broken along the way. Then we were both married and having kids. A busy time for all but still we managed an epic trip to the Adirondack mountains with both families and Monster of course. Then as our children got older we were all busy but had visits in Ohio and in Ontario along the way. So many fun times. Last year we had a great adventure in Florida for Jay's birthday. We climbed up the lighthouse saw that awesome lens, had a dinner cruise and met some other friends of yours. We even had some drinks and listened to some music together. We miss you already and were honored to see you in Texas in your new home. Love to all!
Daniel Jones
February 13, 2025
I am grateful to have had the chance to work with Jay. He was an excellent leader and a great man. The obituary is beautifully written, showing what I saw in my brief time of knowing him, that for all his accomplishments, it was his family he was most proud of. My sincere condolences to all his family and friends.
Baris Erkmen
February 12, 2025
In transitioning an emerging technology from prototype to a manufactured product, I had the opportunity to meet and work closely with Jay. Early on in our collaboration, he said to me "I've built products in far greater numbers, and I've built products with far greater complexity, but I have never built as many of something that is this complex!" Throughout the years of our professional relationship, I've cherished his wisdom, his optics knowledge and skill, his business acumen, and his composure. It is a true privilege to have known him and worked with him. Rest in peace, Jay.
Mark Bigelow
February 12, 2025
Working with a key customer in Silicon Valley and I introduced Jay as the man from Jupiter, to which he and other in the room enjoyed the humor, especially since he was such a kind soft spoken, intelligent and generous man.
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