John H. Lewis *71

John Lewis, a retired engineer for the Raytheon Corp., died peacefully at home March 8, 2017, after suffering from progressive supranuclear palsy. He was 73.

Lewis graduated from Virginia Tech in 1965 with a degree in mechanical engineering. In 1971, he earned a Ph.D. from Princeton in mechanical and aerospace engineering.

He then worked for DuPont, Xonics, Arco Solar, and finally Raytheon, from which he retired in 2003. His career took him to Wilmington, Del.; Los Angeles; Rome; Dallas; and Palm Springs, Calif. (where he was a passionate sailor). He moved to a retirement community in Virginia in 2008.

Lewis was married for 24 years to Nance Kissel before she died in 2007. In 2010, he married Joan Schad, who survives him. She faithfully cared for him as he courageously endured his degenerative neurological disease. He is also survived by a brother, a niece, a nephew, and five great nieces and nephews.

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.