In Memoriam: David Alexandar Jannsen, 1928-2013 native Oregonian, Emeritus Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, David A. Jannsen, born January 1, 1928 in Oregon City, died from natural causes on September 19, 2013, at his Clackamas residence. He attended Clackamas and Oregon City public schools and Portland’s Multnomah College (1945 to 1948), where he completed an associate degree before entering Oregon State University where he earned a bachelors degree (1950) in Industrial Engineering. Upon graduation from OSU he worked for two years in a family-owned well-drilling firm. During the Korean War era he served as a United States naval officer (1952-1955) holding shipbuilding supervisorial responsibilities at the New York Naval Shipyard in Brooklyn. After completing naval service in 1955 he joined the Engineering and Applied Science faculty at the recently renamed Portland State College. In 1955 most of the college’s curricular offerings concentrated on general studies courses. Professor Jannsen came to this institution at a crucial time that utilized his professional contributions to expand engineering instruction that would lead to the development of the present-day Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science. At the outset, he deployed his efforts almost equally between teaching basic engineering courses to large classes and providing essential lower division student program advising. For many years he served as the initial contact advisor for most students who pursued instruction in the Department of Engineering and Applied Science. He actively engaged with university-wide committees assigned to improve instructional effectiveness, and he promoted outreach to business and government agencies that would employ graduates of PSU’s various engineering programs. He regularly engaged in conferences offered by scientific and professional societies. For his ongoing achievements, he was promoted to assistant professor in 1959, to associate professor in 1982, and in 1988 he retired as emeritus associate professor. During naval service in New York, in 1953 he met and married Ellie White and they had four children: Steve (Shannon); Lois (Bill); Brian (Val); Connie (Ken). He is also survived by twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Dave and Ellie were longtime RAPS members and our organization extends its heartfelt sympathy to her and her children. David nurtured a wide variety of intellectual interests. A lifelong violinist, he performed with the East County Community Orchestra and other music groups. He actively participated in many church activities, including preaching and facilities maintenance. Devotion to the outdoors prompted him to harvest timber on a personally owned three-acre timber tract in Estacada, located near Eagle Fern Camp, an interdenominational retreat center with special youth outreach. Remembrances honoring him may be directed to Eagle Fern Camp, 37700 SE Camp Road, Estacada OR 97023. At a Celebration of Life memorial held September 28, 2013, at East Gate Bible Church, a colleague thoughtfully stated: “We will always remember Dave…who showed… the way to…think the best of others, and to help our students to the fullest.” For his long years of dedicated service at laborious, demanding tasks in fulfillment of our educational mission, the PSU community owes Professor Jannsen a lasting debt of gratitude. --Victor C. Dahl, Emeritus Professor of History 6 A
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