William E. Jahsman

Dr. William E. Jahsman passed away in Santa Rosa at age 84 on June 2, 2010. During a private memorial service, family members delivered his ashes to the sea. Dr. Jahsman's chosen resting spot was located at the wife of 58 years, Nona Simi Jahsman. Dr. Jahsman, who was known as "Bill" to family and friends, was a man of great intellectual curiosity and achievement. He received a bachelor's degree from Cornell University in 1951. In 1954, he earned both a Master of Science and a Ph.D. from Stanford University. Bill's early professional work included positions as engineer and supervisor at General Electric and research scientist at Lockheed. From 1967-1980, he was a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado, serving as department chairman during the last seven years. In 1969, Bill procured a year-long post in London with the Office of Naval Research. In 1979, Bill and Nona traveled to Oxford University, where Bill was as a visiting professor. Bill worked for Intel during the 1980s, where he managed package technology and quality assistance departments in California and Arizona. After Bill's retirement from Intel in 1992, Bill and Nona chose Santa Rosa as their home. There, they enjoyed their friends and neighbors, roses and fruit trees, and the California good life. Bill joined many sub-committees of his neighborhood association. A lifelong artist and outstanding piano player, Bill continued to tickle the ivories with regularity. He also developed a love of the trebuchet, a medieval siege weapon, and spent many years designing and building variously sized models. The engineer in him was simply not finished working yet. Throughout his professional life, Bill authored dozens of publications in his field, consulted with colleagues far and near, and served on innumerable committees. If something needed to be done, Bill Jahsman was the clear-thinking man to call. He wouldn't just help solve your problem; he would also provide you with a neat schematic drawing of the solution. He was a man who loved to laugh and to learn and to know, and he lived a big life. Thank you, unforgettable Dad, for everything. Bill is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, David and Barbara Jahsman; children, Bill Jahsman, Dirck Jahsman and Amy Gamblin and grandchildren, Patrick and Emily Jahsman; Nick, Devin and Casey Jahsman; and Ben and Danny Straton.