John F. Foss

John was born to Maurice Felker and Catherine (Reynard) Foss in Washington, PA. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jacqueline Kay (Voss) Foss, daughters Judith Van Zante (Dale) and Janette Garcia (Arturo Jr.), grandchildren, Fiona Garcia (Nestor Ugarte), Jonathan Garcia, Zackary Van Zante, Kirsten Van Zante, and sister Mary Foss. He is preceded by his parents and sister, Ruth Dearden.

His daughters remember him as a father who would make up bedtime stories to tell them when they were young, and who faithfully coached their softball teams each year in OAKS (a parent run program that ensured every child would play). His wife remembers him as a husband who was a rock of strength and unwavering support. Many remember him as a man of strong conviction who also recognized the importance of social and racial justice.

His was the last class to graduate from McGuffey High School (an experimental K-12 school through Miami U. of Ohio). This special group of 38 classmates kept in touch throughout the years. After high school, he attended Wilmington College (OH) so he could play football. John transferred to Purdue University as a Junior where he earned three degrees in Mechanical Engineering: BSME (1961), MSME (1962), and PhD (1964).

During his studies, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps (officer training) and was honorably discharged in 1962 (Second Lieutenant) to pursue his doctorate. Purdue is also where he met and married Jacquie in 1960, his wife, his support and confidante for the next 65 years.

Professionally, he served 51 years as faculty in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan State University (MSU), 1964-2015, becoming a full Professor in 1975. He specialized in experimental fluid mechanics. His lifelong quest for excellence was strengthened by his first sabbatical (1971-72) at Johns Hopkins University with the renowned Prof. Stan Corrsin. He wanted to discover not only the “what” but the “why”. The family also greatly benefited from his second sabbatical spending 1978-79 at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in West Germany as a Von Humboldt Fellow. John and Jacquie traveled to his third sabbatical at the University of Melbourne, Australia in 1994. John was invited to serve a rotation as the National Science Foundation Program Director for Fluid Dynamics and Hydraulics,1998-2000. He was working on his 9th patent with his former student, Vytau Virskus, when he passed. Perhaps one way to illustrate his distinguished career[1] is to note that of his many awards and recognitions, John was most proud to have earned a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011 from ASME Fluids Engineering Division.

John fostered opportunities to exchange ideas and cultures. As part of the “Challenge of Dr. King’s Legacy” at the height of the 1960s Civil Rights movement, he taught a short course at HBCU Rust College (Holly Springs, MS) as part of the MSU United Ministries program lead by Rev. John Duley.

He felt that he gained more from that experience than he gave. In 1973, he co-founded MUFMECH (Midwestern Universities Fluid Mechanics Retreat) which is still going strong today. MUFMECH was designed as a welcoming place for graduate students and faculty to present their research in a structured, but friendly environment. It is an opportunity to share knowledge, have fun and create life-long friendships. In the 1990s he brought German graduate students to MSU to study, and actively organized MSU undergraduates to study abroad at the University of Aachen.

We cannot conclude this obituary without mentioning that John was an avid handball player –playing into his 80s, and a proud founding member of the “4As”.

[1] A brief record of John’s professional accomplishments: Supported hundreds of students in their studies and personal lives; 8 patents, working on the 9th when he passed; Co-wrote 10 books and book chapters; Published 100 refereed articles as well as 64 other abstracts or publications; Member of 7 technical and professional societies, notably: 1987 Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), 1992 Society of Scholars, The Johns Hopkins University, 1999 Fellow and Chartered Physicist, Institute of Physics, UK.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your choice of Greater Lansing Food Bank or a food bank of your choice, Edgewood United Church of Christ, or MSU John F. and Jacqueline K. Foss Endowment Fund. If by check: payable to "Michigan State University" with memo "Foss Endowment - in memory of John Foss." Address: MSU, University Advancement, 535 Chestnut Road, Room 300, East Lansing, MI 48824.

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