John Stephen Ayala

John Stephen Ayala John Stephen Ayala, 55, passed away in Singapore on October 22, 2010. John is the son of the late Fernando Ayala and Betty Vail Ayala of Wilmington, NC. He was born in Washington DC on August 17, 1955 and maintained residence in Houston, Texas. John graduated from Hoggard High School in 1973 and received a B.S. and M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from M.I.T in 1977. In 1977, John joined Shell Oil Company where he quickly became a key contributor to several ground breaking technical undertakings in Shell's petrochemical business. In the mid 1980's, he joined Kellogg's advanced control team. While at Kellogg, John developed a multivariable controller that is still in use today. Although this was a major accomplishment, John seemed to consider this routine, as it was his nature to avoid focusing on himself. In 1987 he joined Dynamic Matrix Control Corporation where he served as Senior Vice President, Optimization until 1996 when DMC Corporation was acquired by Aspen Technology. John joined Aspen and became Senior Vice President and President, Advanced Control and Optimization Division where he was responsible for the management of one of the company's largest divisions. In 2000 John moved to South East Asia to head Aspen's Singapore office. There he worked with great people, his favorite clients, and with the technology that he spent his life developing. In 2000, in recognition for John's significant contribution to the field of Advanced Control and Optimization, he received the prestigious AIChE CAST 2000 Computing Practice Award. At the end of 2002 John joined Applied Manufacturing Technologies, LP where he was the Director of AMT Singapore Ltd. and Senior Vice President, working with extraordinary people and in the field of technology he genuinely enjoyed. Since early in his career, John has been the pace setter in the area of real time optimization and model based control. He is known as one of the great pioneers of the advanced control and optimization business and a key contributor to the development of the technologies that drive them. John was there at the beginning and over the years he became an integral member of major companies associated with this technology where he earned the distinction of being a brilliant technical leader as well as a truly marvelous individual to share time with. On the rare occasions when John was not working, he enjoyed photography and outdoor activities which included riding motorcycles, fishing, shooting, and hunting. He was a mentor to many and a loving and caring person who had many friends throughout the world. John is survived by his wife, Helen Nguyen Ayala, and her son, Harry Nguyen, of Houston TX, his mother, Betty V. Ayala of Wilmington NC, daughter, Marlyse Ayala and her mother, Denise Ayala, of Wallingford CT, brother, Mark Ayala of Wilmington NC, sister, Caroline Clemmons and husband, Russell, of Winnabow NC, nephews, Zachary Ayala and Matthew Clemmons, and niece, Ashley Clemmons. Pallbearers will be Mark Ayala, Russell Clemmons, Zachary Ayala, Matthew Clemmons, Lonnie Clemmons, and Jimmy Edwards. Honorary Pallbearer is Harry Nguyen. Visitation will be held Sunday, October 31st from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Andrews Valley Chapel on College Road. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Monday, November 1st, at Andrews Valley Chapel by Rev. Donald Shields. Interment will follow in Oleander Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Harbor United Methodist Church 4853 Masonboro Loop Rd. Wilmington, NC 28409 or Grace Point Community Church 185 Old Fayetteville Rd. Leland, NC 28451.