Nans Kunz's Obituary
Nans Kunz September 18, 1956 – February 23, 2016Nans Kunz passed away at age 59 on February 23rd, a victim of ALS. Nans was born in Wolfsburg, Germany on September 18, 1956, the oldest child of Friedel Trippler and Dieter Kunz. He moved to the United States when he was 15 months old. He grew up in Coosbay, Oregon and graduated from Marshfield High School in 1974 before heading off to Oregon State where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1978. He joined NASA immediately after graduation and worked for 37 years at AMES Research Center. His colleagues at Ames considered him a friend, mentor, gifted colleague and exceptional engineer. Nans began his career in the Systems Engineering Division at Ames as a Mechanical Engineer in 1978. While here he earned a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford, and certification as a licensed Professional Engineer (PE). During his first 13 years at Ames he supported, led or had significant roles in dozens of projects involving many of Ames’ research programs and facilities. In 1985 Nans began technical studies of SOFIA, leading teams from the Engineering Directorate to complete phase A and B studies, and was primarily responsible for many of the major features of SOFIA. His legacy will fly with SOFIA for many years to come. He resigned from SOFIA after the first test flights in 2007. In 2008 Nans served as the Capture Manager for the successful SMEX proposal and in 2009 Nans became Ames’ Chief NESC Engineer where he collaborated with the best engineers at NASA and industry to solve the Agencies most challenging technical problems. Outside of work, Nans took pleasure in many activities like skiing and camping with his family and friends. He found much happiness in tutoring junior high “mathletes”, coaching youth soccer, mentoring high school robotics teams, and leading wilderness outings for a local troop of the Boy Scouts of America. Such activities, his natural abilities, his affinity for his profession, and his family and friends meant that Nans experienced many of life’s wonderful opportunities. A celebration of Nans’s life will take place Monday, March 7, 2016, at 11:00 a.m., at the Holy Spirit Church, 37588 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Nans at http://webgw.alsa.org/site/TR/PersonalFund/GoldenWest?px=7289087&pg=personal&fr_id=10039#.VtEWf6q9LCT Nans is survived by his wife Cindy, daughter Erin, son Alex, father Dieter Kunz, mother Friedel McCarthy, sister Peggy Arida, and brother Dieter Kunz.
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