Professor James R. Arnold, former Director of the California Space Institute and founding Principal Investigator for the California Space Grant Consortium, passed away Friday, January 6, 2012 at the age of 88.

As founding PI of the California Space Grant Consortium, Jim contributed to the early National Space Grant Program under Julius Dash and was a mentor and best friend to the now-retired California Space Grant Director, Mike Wiskerchen:  “I worked closely with Jim for over twenty years.  He was my mentor, a close colleague, and a dear friend. I learned a great deal from him and he will be missed by me and many others.”

“Jim was a fantastic research scientist and academic scholar who found the time to personally mentor over two dozen California Space Grant students. I will always remember our discussions of his vision to develop an equally strong space science and engineering program at the California Space Institute,” reflected John Kosmatka, the current PI and Interim Director of the California Space Grant Consortium.

Jim is survived by his lovely wife Louise, and their three sons Bob, Ted, and Ken.

For more information please visit:
http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressreleases/jim_arnold_founding_chemist_at_uc_san_diego_dies_at_88/