Posted on 04/19/2007 12:55:43 PM PDT by Rockitz
Friend and former co-worker, boris, passed away the weekend of 7 April at age 55 and was laid to rest in the Hollywood Hills on 16 April. He maintained a relatively anonymous existence here at FR since signing on 19 July 1998 and most recently posted on 29 March. He was an accomplished rocket scientist with an MS in mechanical engineering from MIT (1975) and BS in mechanical engineering from Cornell and was involved in many programs throughout his career from directed energy systems (e.g. lasers) to advanced propulsion systems such as nuclear thermal rocket engines, Peacekeeper Stage IV, various satellite systems, space station propulsion, advanced pulse detonation system concepts, solar rockets, propulsion systems for MESUR (precursor to Mars Pathfinder) and ARTEMIS (Moon Base) projects, Mars ascent engine, through his most recent work on the THAAD program. Additionally, he was a corporate and national resource with regard to Russian rocket technology and worked on studies of the RD-170, RD-0120, RD-701, NK-33, and D-57 engine systems. He was also a PC guru who independently wrote and sold graphics software for a number of applications. Originally from the Baltimore, Maryland, he was Jewish by birth, a science fiction buff, and enjoyed the music of Mike Oldfield. He was a strong supporter of Israel, an early critic of global warming by humans, and as a proud gun-owner he frequently posted in supported of 2nd amendment rights. He was a diabetic and had double bypass surgery in 1999 at age 48. He got me interested in FR early and I lurked for a couple years before signing on. Our conversations helped form my own conservative perspectives as well as those of many others. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and colleagues.
R.I.P.
RIP, Boris, our interactions were informative and enlightening.
The impression of him being a solid guy is reinforced by your bio of him.
Dang, again here....Blessings for/on his family ...Prayers, Peace..
So sorry to hear Boris.
Seems the only time someone calls me from my MIT or KSC days, it’s about the death of a friend. I thought they would all out live me.
Dylan said something about “$10,000 for it to be like that.”
I miss them all.
John
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