Gerald Jerry Leslie Park

East Lansing, Michigan

Gerald (Jerry) Park, born February 7, 1933 in Minneapolis, MN, to Leslie and Isabelle Park, passed away April 15, 2012 at the age of 79. Jerry served in the U.S. Air Force and was a retired Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering at Michigan State University, where he worked for over 30 years. He graduated from Stanford University with a Masters in Engineering and University of Minnesota with a Ph.D. At Stanford, his life-long hobby of amateur radio qualified him to work at Stanford’s Radio Lab, where he set up receiving stations to monitor the first ever satellite – Sputnik. Jerry’s academic interests evolved to focus on electrical systems engineering, including investigations into the first wind power systems, electric vehicles and power quality monitoring—presaging recent developments in these field. He was an ardent and true believer in the power of education and devoted himself to improving education. He served for over 10 years on the East Lansing School Board, including serving as the President of the Board. He coupled his interests in Ham Radio and education to serve for 15 years as the trustee and advisor for the MSU amateur radio station W8SH, and was “the electrical expert” for a WKAR call-in show. He and Lois also established The Gerald and Lois Park Amateur Radio Endowed Scholarship Fund at MSU, to aid Electrical Engineering students who are radio operators. MSU noted and commended his community service by awarding him the first Presidential Award for Outstanding Community Service.

Above all, Jerry loved and was proud of his family: his kids, grandkids, sisters, nieces and nephews. Jerry’s other passions were for boating and all things musical, especially Opera and Baroque music. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lois: sons Stephen (Carol), Thomas (Jane), David (Lisa ); 6 grandchildren, Kristie, Kelley, Lundy, Leslie, Emma and Isabelle; 2 sisters, Sarah Inglis and Katherine Henaman, sister in-law Liz Curren and many nieces and nephews and extended family

A memorial service will be held at Edgewood United Church, 469 N. Hagadorn Rd., East Lansing on Saturday, April 28 at 1:00 PM with Reverend Kari Nicewander officiating. No flowers please.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Gerald and Lois Park Amateur Radio Endowed Scholarship Fund, at Michigan State University,300 Spartan Way, East Lansing, MI 48824 the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at www.michaeljfox.org, or the Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation, 30400 Telegraph, Ste 150, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 in Jerry’s memory.

The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, East Lansing. On line condolences may be made at www.greastlansing.com.