David Mitchell Scaff

David Mitchell Scaff—an electrical engineer fascinated by the universe, a dedicated outdoorsman, and a devoted family man—passed away peacefully in La Crescenta, California, on December 17, 2025. He was 88 years old and had just celebrated his 64th wedding anniversary.

Born in Fresno, California, into a farming family in one of the Central Valley's most productive agricultural communities, David grew up in Clovis. He graduated from Clovis High School in 1955, where he was an active member of the band and the California Scholarship Federation (CSF).

David pursued his passion for innovation at Stanford University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) in 1959. During his time there, he joined the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and played saxophone in the Stanford Band. He later earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE) from the University of Southern California in 1968.

David's exciting career at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in La Cañada Flintridge spanned 44 years, from 1959 to 2003. As a key contributor to the Deep Space Network (DSN)—NASA's global system for communicating with distant spacecraft—he dedicated his professional life to enabling groundbreaking missions that expanded humanity's understanding of the universe.

His duties included development, qualification testing, installation, and operator training at field sites across the globe, such as Goldstone (California), Johannesburg (South Africa), Canberra (Australia), Madrid (Spain), and Woomera (Australia). David always stressed the importance of teamwork in all endeavors. While the space exploration itself was thrilling, the international travel created unique opportunities for lifelong friendships with colleagues and partners—relationships he cherished to the very end.

A lifelong member of the IEEE, David's expertise in radio frequency subsystems, telecommunications, and radar systems supported historic endeavors. These included Mariner 9, the first spacecraft to orbit Mars; the Viking orbiters; and the Voyager 1 and 2 probes, which continue to transmit data from interstellar space as of 2025, over 15 billion miles from Earth. His roles ranged from technical oversight to deputy systems engineering, leaving an indelible mark on missions such as SEASAT, Magellan, Galileo, Cassini, and Juno.

Beyond his professional achievements, David was deeply committed to his community. He volunteered extensively with Little League Baseball, the YMCA Indian Guides, and the Boy Scouts of America, sharing his love of the outdoors in every activity. He served as president of the Flintridge Prep Fathers' Club for three years while his children attended the school. He also spent more than 30 years playing in the JPL Recreation Softball League. In a testament to his competitive spirit and humor, his final team was named "The Last Gasp"—acknowledging that while they were old-timers, they still planned to beat their opponents and win!

David's lifelong passion for space exploration inspired all who knew him. This passion, however, was surpassed only by his love for his wife, Lois. Dave and Lois met as young teenagers in the 1950s, grew serious while at Stanford, and married in 1961, just a few months after her graduation.

He is survived by his wife, Lois Marie Scaff; his sister, Margaret Dale Pierre; his sons, Mitchell D. Scaff, Eric S. Scaff, and Daniel Nahme Scaff; his daughters-in-law, Liza Mains Scaff and Nayiri D. Scaff; and his grandsons, Dylan, Aidan, Nathaniel, and Colin Scaff. He was predeceased by his father, Mitchell N. Scaff; his mother, Bonnie Jean Scaff; and his brother-in-law, Paul Pierre.

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to his favorite charity, the Wounded Warrior Project, in support of our nation's veterans (www.woundedwarriorproject.org).

David will be deeply missed as a man who valued hard work, integrity, and family. As he looks down on us now, he would want us all to know that, indeed, "He got it done!"

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 16, 2026, in the Chapel at Boice Funeral Home, 308 Pollasky Ave., Clovis, CA 93612 (559-299-4372). Interment will follow at 11:00 a.m. at Clovis Cemetery, 305 N Villa Ave., Clovis, CA 93612 (559-299-6057).