John Giboney Tatum II

Of Port Saint Lucie, Florida

Born: DECEMBER 29, 1934

Passed Away: DECEMBER 19, 2022

John was born in Los Angeles, California, on December 29, 1934, to the late John G. and Alison Smith Tatum.

John completed his education at Stanford University earning 3 engineering degrees. During the 1960s, after earning his doctorate degree, he began work at Hewlett Packard in Silicon Valley as one of the first engineers hired to design electronic instruments with the newly invented transistor. Later, he worked with Dr. William Shockley, the inventor of the transistor, helping to develop the world’s first RF Power transistor.

John was married to his beloved wife, Blanca Acosta, from1970 until her death in 2019. They loved to travel, take cruises and entertain friends and family.

John enjoyed hiking and hunting at his California ranch as well as racing and cruising sailboats. He retired from California to Amelia Island, Florida, with his wife, Blanca, in 1999. He was a volunteer in the Police Auxiliary, The Coast Guard Auxiliary and Middle School Tutoring. John and Blanca moved to Port Saint Lucie, Florida in 2017, where he was a volunteer at Cleveland Clinic, Tradition Hospital until 2022.

He is survived by his step-daughter, Karen S. Farrell (Michael) of Port Saint Lucie, FL, and their 3 children, Ryan (Melissa), Kelly (Josh), Sarah and a great-grandchild, Sebastian.

John will be interred at the Bosque Bello Cemetery in Fernandina Beach, FL, alongside his wife, Blanca

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.aycocktradition.com for the Tatum family.