John C Twombly

John “Jack” C. Twombly passed from this life to his heavenly life on December 9, 2016 at the age of 95. He was born in Denver, CO to George and Alma Twombly and grew up in Fort Morgan, CO. After completing high school and his bachelor’s degree he entered into the U.S. Army and served in the signal corps during WWII from February 28th 1944 to March 29th, 1946, during this time he also worked on the Manhattan project at Los Alamos NM. Jack received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado in 1944, and his M.S. from Stanford in 1950. Upon returning to the University of Colorado he conducted classified and vacuum tube research projects from 1950 to 1959. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Colorado in 1959. Mr. Twombly was then employed as Project Director Engineering Experiment Station University of Colorado. He directed a project sponsored by the Office of Naval Research which studied the properties of high-charge-density electron beams. In addition to his duties at the Experiment Station he also served as a faculty member in the Electrical Engineering Department. Jack initiated and then served as the Director of the Minority Engineering Program at the University of Colorado. He served in the University’s Mountain Recreation Department, leading both climbs and backpacking trips for students and visiting faculty. He also organized picnics where he would sing and play his guitar. Jack raised four children whom he loved and taught by precept and example to love God and to love the world in which we live. He emphasized the importance of outdoor activity in the mountains and stewardship of the earth as well as the value of education. He was noted for his temperate patience for his children throughout their growing years, and a willing unconditional love for each one. In 1974 he married Dee Chester Greenidge, but later divorced in 1986. In 1989 Jack married Janneke Pelt Van Dorne in Boulder. Jack and Janneke enjoyed going for hikes in the mountains, playing tennis, attending church and going on small cruises with the Audubon Society. They attended First Presbyterian Church where Jack started an environmental group on conservation and sustainability and later moved their attendance to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. He will be missed very much by his wife, children and his little dog Pacho.

Mr. Twombly is survived by his wife Janneke, two children, Peter Van Dorne (Cheri), Marina Mayberry (Gary), his former wife Dee Twombly and her children, Scot (Sonnette), Wendee (Brad), David (Tammy) and Andrew (Kris). He is preceded in death by his parents and one brother George Twombly and a stepson Hans Van Dorne. A memorial service will be held 11 am Saturday January 7, 2017 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church 3700 Baseline Rd., Boulder. Interment will be held at Mountain View Memorial Park in Boulder. Memorial contributions may be made to Eco-Justice Ministry 400 S.Williams St., Denver, CO 80209-2639. To send condolences please go to www.cristmortuary.com. Arrangements under the direction of Crist Mortuary, Boulder, CO.