Paul Francis Yaggy

Paul was an engineer. He dressed, talked and acted like an engineer. Those who came to him for advice and counsel found him to be compassionate and empathetic, yet challenging. He encouraged the best in people, knowing all the while that with God, nothing is impossible.

Born to Vivian and W. Van Clief Yaggy in Detroit Michigan on August 4, 1923, Paul joined older brother Philip. Van Clief was a minister with the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, so Paul and Phil learned about God from an early age. This upbringing would influence his lifestyle and career decisions for the rest of his life. He attended Vermilion High School in Ohio and Dover High School in New Jersey, where he graduated in 1941.

Paul attended Taylor University from 1941 to 1943, but his studies were interrupted by the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor. In 1943, he enlisted in the US Navy, and in 1944, the Navy assigned him to work at NACA (forerunner of NASA) in Moffett Field, CA. While in the Navy, he was enrolled in the engineering program of Notre Dame University. Paul served as an officer in the US Navy from 1943 to 1946 and received an honorable discharge. He continued to serve in the Naval Reserves until November, 1952, serving in the Korean War in 1950. He finished his education at San Jose State College, where he graduated with distinction with a BSEE in 1963. He also pursued graduate work at Stanford University.

It was at the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory at Moffett Field, CA that Paul met Dorothy, the girl with whom he was to share his life. They were married in the Navy Chapel at Moffett Field on November 10, 1945, and enjoyed 65 years of marriage before her passing. They lived in Maui, Hawaii during their first year of marriage, which became a favorite vacation spot thereafter. Paul was a devoted husband and loved Dorothy with all of his heart.

Following service as an aircraft technician during World War II, Paul built a notable career in aerospace sciences, particularly in the Ames full-scale and flight research group. In 1965, there was an opportunity in the complex aerodynamics of low-speed flight. The U.S. Army was keenly interested in the low-speed regime and partnered with Ames to serve as its basic research and development arm. Paul was chosen as the founding Director to lead the establishment of the US Army Aeronautical Research Laboratory, where he served as its director until 1974. He successfully expanded Ames research into VISTOL wings, helicopters, and tilt rotor aircraft, and was an early advocate of basic research in handling qualities and in computational fluid dynamics. Paul forged the strong relationship between NASA Ames and the U.S. Army and built a research group which today positions Ames as a world leader in rotorcraft aeromechanics. He attained national and international recognition with his expertise and attended NATO AGARD meetings hosted internationally. During the last two years of his career, he also served as the Director, Research, Development and Engineering for the US Army Aeronautical Systems Command, a division of the US Army Material Command.

Paul served San Jose State as an Assistant Professor, where he taught engineering courses, and was a guest lecturer at the von Karman Institute in Brussels Belgium, the Royal Aeronautical Society in London, England, and at Stanford University, CA.

In 1973, Paul received the prestigious Dr. Alexander Klemin Award. The award is “for notable achievement in the advancement of rotarywing aeronautics.” The citation accompanying the honor reads: “In recognition of his outstanding contribution to helicopter technology and his leadership of the U.S. Army Air Mobility Research and Development Laboratory. His foresight and dedication set the standards for the future of our industry.” Paul humbly accepted the award, adding at the end of his acceptance speech, “And finally, if you’ll permit me just a personal note, I must give thanks to God, who solely is responsible for anything that I might do that’s worthwhile.”

In 2009, Paul was honored with the NASA Ames Hall of Fame Award. The NASA Ames Hall of Fame formally recognizes those people "whose contributions have had the most sustained and far-reaching influence on the direction and mission of NASA Ames, and/or whose work at NASA Ames has generated fundamental advancements in either a scientific or engineering field."

Having been active in church ministry most of his life, and after retiring from NASA, Paul joined the pastoral staff of Calvary Church, Los Gatos, CA, where he had been a member since 1966. Among his duties as Pastor for Ministries and Administration was serving as Missions Pastor. He was ordained to the ministry in 1978. He served the church until 1981, when the Lord led him and Dorothy into missionary work with OC International.

In October of 1981, Paul joined OC as Special Assistant to the President, and from 1982 to 1983, he served as Interim President. In the years following, Paul served as Senior Advisor to the President and continued to provide leadership for the Objectives Process. He spent a great deal of time on many of the OC international fields, teaching, counseling and opening new fields of ministry. He worked on mission strategy and the oversight of ministry worldwide. His ministry required a great deal of travel to all continents of the world, often with Dorothy’s company, not only to provide training and oversight, but also to preach in local churches when requested. Paul retired from OC International in 2008.

There are many other sides to Paul in addition to his careers. Trains have always been a part of his life. He loved them, big and small, and was an avid model railroad collector. He also played the violin, cooked a mean pancake, and designed and built his residence in Campbell. Later, he designed and constructed two major renovations to that structure, as well as building a house for his parents across the street. Disneyland was one of his favorite places, and the family took yearly fun-filled trips to the kingdom. When pressed by his lively family, he also enjoyed Sunday hikes.

Paul Francis Yaggy went to be with Jesus on August 20, 2012. He passed away peacefully in his home in Campbell, California under the tender care of Hospice of the Valley. He was 89 years old. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Dorothy. He is survived by his brother, Philip Yaggy, and his wife Mildred Yaggy, his children, Carol Winslow, Nancy Locke and her husband Kelly Locke, Kathy Hemingway and her husband Greg Hemingway, and Becky Ackerman. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Services were held on August 30, 2012 at Calvary Church, Los Gatos, CA. Paul was laid to rest at Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, CA.