Francis James Jankowski

, 78 of Albuquerque, N.M., formerly of Kettering, OH, died July 6, 2001 in Bethany Lutheran Village, Kettering, Ohio. He was a native of Tribes Hill, New York. He graduated from Union College, Schenectady, NY with a BS in Civil Engineering in 1943 where he was a Recipient of the Physics Prize and the Building Construction Award. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati, with a MS in Engineering, 1947 and a Doctor of Science, in 1949, with a major in Physics. Frank served in the military from June 1942 to December 1945; pilot training in the Southeast Training Command; Instructor School at Randolph Field TX where he was a Flight Instructor in Advanced Single Engine Piloting. In an Air Show, he won first place in aerobatic flight competition. In 1945 he graduated from The Air Force Institute of Technology with a major in Aeronautical Engineering and The Air Force Test Pilot School, where he was assigned to Bomber Flight Test Program qualifing in P-40, P-51, P-47, C-45, C-64, B-17, AT-6, BT-13, PT-17, and L-5 aircraft. He graduated from the Air War College, 1993, was named ''Outstanding Graduate''. At Westinghouse Electric Company, he participated in the design, development and test of the nuclear power plant for the Nautilus Submarine. He was a key member of the startup team for the Nautilus power plant prototype, operated at the Nuclear Testing Site in Idaho, and was on board the Nautilus as an advisor to the startup crew for the first startup of that nuclear power plant. At Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, OH, he was the Technical Director for the Critical Assembly (experimental low powered nuclear reactors) Program; experimental nuclear reactors were tested for the Nuclear Powered Aircraft, Nuclear Powered Space Launch, and Boiling Water Reactor Programs. Frank next accepted an assignment as Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Rutgers University, where he set up a nuclear laboratory and designed, built, and operated a unique Subcritical Nuclear Reactor fueled with uranium highly enriched in U-235. From Rutgers, he went to Wright State University in Dayton, OH, two years after the founding of the university, as the first Head of Engineering; there he developed programs in Systems Engineering, Human Factors Engineering (with Dr. Malcolm Ritchie) and Materials Engineering; relinquished the administrative position after five years, and continued another ten years as Professor of Engineering. He took an early retirement from Wright State University in 1984, and was name Professor Emeritus on his retirement. Three months following his early retirement from Wright State University, he accepted a position with the Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base; three years later he requested and was granted a transfer to the Air Force Weapons Laboratory, later the Phillips Laboratory At Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, N.M, where he worked in space power, managing and advising projects in solar power, fluid behavior in the zero gravity of space and nuclear power. He was a member of the Interagency Nuclear Safety Review Panel (Air Force, NASA, DOE) which evaluated the safety of Galileo and Ulysses spacecrafts before launch approval could be given; retired from this Air Force position July 1993. Professional assignments included: Ohio Power Siting Board, Public Member, appointed by the Governor, 1982-86; Interagency Advanced Power Group (Washington, DC) 1986-1993 Dayton (Ohio) Area Chamber of Commerce, 1974-83; Chairman of Traffic Safety Committee 1974-76; Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (Ohio), 1972-77; Council of Ohio Engineering Deans, 1970-74, Vice President 1971-73; Reactor Safeguards Committee, Saxton Nuclear Power Plant, General Public Utilities, PA 1960-69; Engineering and Science Institute of Dayton (Ohio), Management Task Group, Chairman 1972-74; Community Advisory Committee for Cable TV for Metropolitan Dayton (Ohio) 1971. Professional Organizations included Sigma Xi, 1942-present; American Nuclear Society from 1954-present and numerous other Scientific Groups. Frank was the author or co-author of more than 60 reports and publications, and editor or contributor to four books. His most recent publication was The Back of the Envelope, which demonstrates the value of engineers and scientists documenting ideas and designs not yet rigorously developed. Dr. Jankowski was very active in the Covenant Presbyterian Church of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Before moving to New Mexico, he was Moderator of the Ohio Conference of the United Church of Christ, 1987. Other activities include President and Editor for the Peppertree/Royal Oak Residents Association of Albuquerque. Survived by Marilyn (Pat) Jean Smith, loving wife of 55 years; daughter, Beth Ellen Casteele and son-in-law Robert Casteele; 2 granddaughters, Nicole and Megan Casteele of Kettering, OH; brother-in-law Carroll L. (Bud) Smith and sister-in-law Patty of New Lebanon, OH; Jane Smith and family of New Jersey; niece of California and many dear friends across the world. A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday July 11 at David's United Church of Christ, 170 W. David Road with the Rev. William C. Youngkin officiating. Visitations will be Wednesday, 10:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m. at the church. Arrangements in care of Routsongs, 2100 E. Stroop Road. Burial in Eversole Cemetery, Brookville, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the A.L.S. foundation.

Funeral Home:
Kettering Routsong Funeral Home
2100 E. Stroop Rd.
Kettering, OH
US 45429