John D. Gash Jr. M.S. ’68 was born in the Kirkwood section of Mercer County, Kentucky, to Corinne Sweeney Gash and John Dudley Gash. After his father died when John was age 4, he and his six siblings were raised by his mother with help from extended family in rural Kentucky. He graduated from Mercer County High School and from Eastern Kentucky University with a degree in applied mathematics and physics. He received his master’s in applied mathematics from SCU. With his applied math and physics degrees, John left the small-town insular fields and hills of Kentucky for California, where he was employed by Lockheed Martin and met Miki. He worked in a variety of positions, from quality control engineer, systems engineering manager, to program manager. His work took him and his family from Denver to England and ultimately back to Northern California. He was dedicated about his job and his role in the organization. His talent and integrity made him one of the best technical and financial managers in the company. His colleagues recall that he had an amiable, easy-going “country” style and recall seeing him rush from one meeting to another with his shirttail hanging out of his pants. He was the consummate company man when he retired in 2001 with a total of over 41 years of service. After retirement, he continued to serve as a consultant for Lockheed for several years. John was supremely dedicated to his family. He followed his children’s sports and activities when growing up and in to their adult lives. Perhaps because of his own life course with his career and move away from his home, he quietly supported his children’s life choices, from medicine to computer engineering to winemaking. He was an avid sports fan, following his favorite teams: Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball, Stanford women’s volleyball, the Golden State Warriors, and whatever sports team on which his grandchildren were playing. He was the funny, irreverent uncle who joked with his nieces and nephews and would show up unannounced in the middle of the night to surprise his family in Kentucky. He particularly took interest in his grandchildren, taking pride in their achievements and interests and, despite their parents’ opinions, steadfastly holding the belief that the grandchildren could do no wrong. At 80 years old, John passed in San Jose after a long Parkinson’s illness. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mieko, affectionately known as Miki. His children also survive him: John D. Gash III (Lisa) of Lodi, California, and Tami Gash-Kim (Dave Kim) of Greenbrae. He had a special love for and tremendous pride in his five grandchildren: Forrest Gash of Denver, Paige Gash of San Jose, and Nathan, Rainey, and Bryce Kim of Greenbrae. Kentucky survivors include three sisters: Joy Gash and Mary Alice Gash of Salvisa, Kentucky, Martha Jean Hahn of Louisville, Kentucky; and one brother: James E. Gash (Joyce) of Harrodsburg, Kentucky, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great- nephews. He is preceded in death by his sisters, Nancy Lou Cosby and Ada Bruce Gash.