The Reed and Berbach Families of New York State - Person Sheet
The Reed and Berbach Families of New York State - Person Sheet
NameJames Spencer WHITTIER 
1269
1269Birth19 Jun 1935, Farmington, Dakota Cnty, Minnesota1269
Death15 Aug 2009, at home, Palos Verdes Estates, California1269 Age: 74
MemoPulmonary fibrosis
EducationBachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering, 1957; Masters of Science in Mechanics and Materials, 1958; Doctorate in Mechanics and Materials, 1961 all at the University of Minnesota1269
FatherMillard Giles WHITTIER
MotherTheodora Bernice JULSETH
Notes for James Spencer WHITTIER
1935-1961:
Jim was born in Farmington, MN on June 19, 1935 to Millard Giles and Bernice Julseth Whittier. He grew up in small towns throughout MN, KS, WI, and WA and then back to Farmington for his high school years where he graduated as class valedictorian. Jim was awarded numerous academic scholarships which financed his education at the University of Minnesota where he earned his BS in mechanical engineering in 1957 and his MS and PhD in mechanics and materials in 1958 and 1961.1269
1961-2002:
Jim met the love of his life, Virginia (Ginny) Soennichsen while in college. They were married June 9, 1961 in Minneapolis and moved to California. They relocated to Palos Verdes Estates in 1975. They lived briefly in Ithaca, New York (1974-75) where Jim conducted post-doctoral research in applied physics at Cornell University and in Alexandria, Virginia (1987-89) while Jim was on special assignment to the Pentagon as Assistant to the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Advanced Technology.1269
From 1961 to 2002, Jim was with The Aerospace Corp in El Segundo. For many years, he headed the Mechanics Research Dept. in the labs, where he authored more than 30 articles on engineering mechanics and lasers. Following his assignment at the Pentagon, he served as Distinguished Engineer in Space Launch Operations and as a Special Assistant in the corporate headquarters.1269
2002-2009:
After retirement, Jim loved spending time with his family, traveling with a special group of friends on numerous cruises and detailing his family genealogy. He traced his mother’s ancestry back to Norway and his father’s ancestry to many New England pioneers, including three passengers of the Mayflower. Jim prepared several volumes of family history valued by his relatives. With Ginny, he enjoyed an active social life, belonging to two dance clubs, an antique club, attending local performing arts productions throughout the South Bay as well as his membership in the Palos Verdes Breakfast Club.1269
Jim was born in Farmington, MN on June 19, 1935 to Millard Giles and Bernice Julseth Whittier. He grew up in small towns throughout MN, KS, WI, and WA and then back to Farmington for his high school years where he graduated as class valedictorian. Jim was awarded numerous academic scholarships which financed his education at the University of Minnesota where he earned his BS in mechanical engineering in 1957 and his MS and PhD in mechanics and materials in 1958 and 1961.1269
1961-2002:
Jim met the love of his life, Virginia (Ginny) Soennichsen while in college. They were married June 9, 1961 in Minneapolis and moved to California. They relocated to Palos Verdes Estates in 1975. They lived briefly in Ithaca, New York (1974-75) where Jim conducted post-doctoral research in applied physics at Cornell University and in Alexandria, Virginia (1987-89) while Jim was on special assignment to the Pentagon as Assistant to the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Advanced Technology.1269
From 1961 to 2002, Jim was with The Aerospace Corp in El Segundo. For many years, he headed the Mechanics Research Dept. in the labs, where he authored more than 30 articles on engineering mechanics and lasers. Following his assignment at the Pentagon, he served as Distinguished Engineer in Space Launch Operations and as a Special Assistant in the corporate headquarters.1269
2002-2009:
After retirement, Jim loved spending time with his family, traveling with a special group of friends on numerous cruises and detailing his family genealogy. He traced his mother’s ancestry back to Norway and his father’s ancestry to many New England pioneers, including three passengers of the Mayflower. Jim prepared several volumes of family history valued by his relatives. With Ginny, he enjoyed an active social life, belonging to two dance clubs, an antique club, attending local performing arts productions throughout the South Bay as well as his membership in the Palos Verdes Breakfast Club.1269