James Henry Van Tassel

VAN TASSEL, James H., age 89, of Kettering, died on Tuesday, June 19, 2018. Jim graduated from La Crosse Central High School and The University of Wisconsin at La Crosse in 1951. He taught chemistry at St. Johns Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin until he was drafted during the Korean War. After two years of military service, he attended Texas Technological College where he received his MS and PhD degrees in chemistry. He completed a year of post-doctoral study at Princeton University before joining Texas Instrument in Dallas, Texas where he spent twenty years in various technical and managerial assignments. He holds several patents and with two other TI engineers, the basic patent for the hand held calculator. In Dallas, he met his wife of 56 years, the former Mary Louise Carman. Jim and his family moved to Dayton in 1980 when he was hired as Vice-President for Microelectronics by the NCR Corporation. He retired in 1991. In Dayton he was active in many local organizations. He served on the board of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Dayton Engineering and Science Foundation, and the advisory board of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Wright State University. He was a member of the advisory council of the Department of Chemical Engineering of the University of Kentucky, Member of the Technical Advisory Board of the Microelectronic and Computer Corporation, Member, Board of Directors of Sematech, Member, Board of Directors of Semiconductor Research Corporation, the board of directors of Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Singapore, The Microelectronic Advisory Board of the National Security Agency and The Board of Directors of the Mound Community Improvement Corporation. Doctor Van Tassel was elected to Sigma Xi and Tau Beta Pi. He received the Holley Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Florilge dOr from the French Institute of Design and was named a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse. He was a member of the 49ers club, the 39ers club, the Moraine Society, and the Moraine County Club where he served as Treasurer of the Board of Trustees and the Holland Society of New York City. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, John and Agnes Van Tassel of La Crosse, Wisconsin and brother, John. He is survived by Mary Lou, his wife and best friend; two children, John P. (Elizabeth) Van Tassel and their children Johnathan and Joseph Van Tassel of San Jose, California; and James G. (Melissa) Van Tassel of Bellevue, Washington. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30am on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at St. Georges Episcopal Church, 5520 Far Hills Ave., Kettering, OH. The family will greet friends following the service at Moraine Country Club. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Dayton area Salvation Army, 1000 N. Keowee St., Dayton, Ohio 45404.