David Stelman was the youngest of four children born to Jacob and Reba Stelman in Philadelphia. There he was selected to attend Central High School and became the first member of his family to attend college, graduating from Penn State in 1959 and earning a Ph.D. in Chemistry from UC Berkeley in 1964. After post-doctoral work at Caltech and the University of Florida, David had a long career in research and development, working on energy, defense, and aerospace projects at Westinghouse, Atomics International, Rockwell, and Boeing.
Although a credited inventor on US Patents and author of scientific journal articles, David was better known by his family for Pinewood Derby cars, model rockets, and the "Gee Haw Whimmy Dibble" constructed in his garage with his sons, and for the kitchen laboratory creations of giant soap bubbles and rock candy with which he delighted a dozen grandchildren. He served as a volunteer chief for his sons' Indian Guide tribes and a council member for their Scout troops. As they got older, dad helped his teenagers turn old motors into science fair projects and keep their jalopies running. He remained active in retirement and enjoyed the Channel Islands and Thousand Oaks Personal Computer clubs, Photo Group, Thousand Oaks Videomakers, Los Angeles Cinema Club, and Jewish Genealogy Society of the Conejo Valley.
David was predeceased by his loving wife Joan and her grandson Brandon. He is survived by his brother Manfred; his four sons Michael (Pamela), Nathan (Cindy), Steve, and Ken (Christine); their mother Myrna; and adoring grandchildren Jake, Aly, Julia, Becca, Abby, and Zach. He is fondly remembered by Joan's children Steve (Karen), Linda (Don), and Julie [Ron], and grandchildren Allison, Brian, Jennifer, Melissa, and Evan. He is also dearly missed by Ellie Shiek, whose companionship he treasured in his last few years.
The funeral will be held Friday, November 16, 11 a.m. at Eden Memorial Park, 11500 Sepulveda Boulevard in Mission Hills
Donations in his memory can be made to the American Heart Association, Neuro-Immune Disease Alliance (nidalliance.org), or American Cancer Society.
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