Jack Edmonds

Jack Edmonds of Dryden, NY, 74 passed away September 22, 2011 in the Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca after a long illness. Born in Syracuse as “John Albert Edmonds” in 1937 to John and Grace Edmonds, he said that was just his “legal name”. To everyone he was “Jack”. He was a graduate of Onondaga Valley Academy, class of 1954, where he was Salutatorian.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at Syracuse University. He was a lifelong inventor, researcher and scientist. As a kid he excelled in technology and science. At 16, he was on Syracuse television demonstrating his hands-on approach to electronics.

Although quiet in his early years, he donned an aluminum suit and dragged raced downed the track with brakes and a parachute to bring him to a stop. He was equally comfortable with a pen, welding torches, a computer and string theory books. Jack worked on projects for the country’s defense, including bioluminescence in ocean flagellates.

He worked on methods to clear airplane wings of ice and ways to detect hazardous road conditions in inclement weather. Weeks before his passing, he was developing methods to detect the content of plumes from volcanoes. His mind never stopped working on ideas to help people’s lives through engineering and through interrelationships among people. He was active in community youth programs in Virginia and in collaborating with professional colleagues in Tompkins County. Jack married Jeannette Dinino 42 years ago in Syracuse.

They have two children, Michelle Gentry of Virginia and John Edmonds of California. They were blessed with four grandchildren. Jack’s goal was to survive to know that his daughter’s twin babies were born. They are now one month old. He wanted friends and family to know that he really appreciated his time with them. He wanted people to know that he cared. One brother referred to him as “The scientist with a heart.” We are saddened that this heart has stopped. The goodness that came from that heart will live on in us as we remember this fine husband, father, brother and friend.

Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, September 26, 2011 at Perkins Funeral Home, 55 W. Main St., Dryden, NY with Rev. Timothy Dean officiating. Friends and Family may call from 10 – 11 am prior to the service. Those wishing may make a donation in Jack’s memory to Cayuga Medical Center, 101 Dates Dr., Ithaca, NY 14850.