Eugene M Rasmusson, Ph.D.

On March 22, 2015, Eugene M. Rasmusson died at his home in Asbury Village, Gaithersburg, MD with his wife of 54 years, Georgene, by his side.  He is the loving father of Mary Rasmusson, Oak Park Il, Ruth Anne Rasmusson and her husband Bill Bruihler, Guatemala City, Guatemala, Elizabeth Zehner and her husband John, Bethesda MD and Kristin Vignaroli and her husband Mark, Riverside IL; grandfather of Anders and Lukas Bruihler, Matthew, Katie and Jessica Zehner and Emily Vignaroli.  

Gene grew up on a farm in central Kansas.  Upon graduation from Lindsborg High School, he attended Kansas State University and went on to receive a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was chief of the Diagnostic Branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration?s Climate Analysis Center.  His research contributed to understanding climate variability and establishing the basis for practical predictions of El Nino.  He retired from NOAA in 1986 to become a research scientist at the University of Maryland. He served as president of the American Meteorological Society in 1998. Gene received many awards, fellowships, and lectureships in recognition of his professional and scientific contributions, capped in 1999 by election to the National Academy of Engineering.  

Friends were received at DeVol Funeral Home, 10 E. Deer Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD  20877 on Friday, March 27 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.  

Funeral Service was held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 16420 S. Westland Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.

Interment with full military honors will be held in Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at 1:00 p.m.  Please assemble at the Administration Building no later than 12:15 p.m. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to either the above church or to the University of Maryland College Park Foundation. Checks can be mailed to: CMNS Development Office, University of Maryland, 2300 Symons Hall, College Park, Maryland 20742. In the check notes include:  'Eugene Rasmusson Endowed Fellowship - Acct. #21-40475'   http://advancement.umd.edu/giving/Fund.php?name=eugene-rasmusson-endowed-fellowship

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