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JANUARY 3, 1975 - SEPTEMBER 5, 2011
RESIDENT OF COLUMBIA, MARYLAND
Surrounded by family and friends, William Dan Powell, lead Nanotechnologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, passed away at the age of 36 on Monday, September 5th at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
His professional career was marked with rare achievement, including nanotechnology experiments flown on multiple space shuttle missions, co-founding the Greater Washington Nanotechnology Alliance, and serving as Chairman of the Inter-Organizational Nanotechnology Council. Dan was also an expert in metallic and organic-matrix composite structure development and holds several patents in mechanical design and nanocomposites.
Dan was a charismatic person with a unique ability to touch and inspire others to make the impossible merely difficult. He was a compelling and engaging public speaker and could articulate complex concepts to any audience with simple language and great humor. Dan taught everyone he met something new. Whether it be mental toughness, perseverance, undaunting courage or how to find a new perspective when all options seemed exhausted. This legacy will live on through us all.
Dan loved jazz music, beautiful things, good food and even better friends.
Dan was born in Carmel, California and received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Oregon State University and pursued graduates studies in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland. Rights of the Disabled was a passion for Dan. He fought vigorously to improve the quality of life and accessibility for disabled persons wherever he lived and worked.
Those who will miss Dan most are his wife Lori, his mother Connie, his sisters Holly & Coleen and his brother Ron.
A mass for Christian Burial was held on September 9, 2011 at St. Ann Catholic in Arlington, VA. Dan will be coming home to California for his final resting place. A vigil and visitation is planned for September 16, 2011 from 2-4PM at St. Michael’s Church, Livermore, CA. The interment will be September 17, 10AM at Pleasanton Pioneer Cemetery, in Pleasanton, CA.
In Lieu of Flowers, donations can be made to the following organizations:
- St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital
- Shriners Hospital for Children
- Johns Hopkins Hospital