Leslie John Palkuti

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Visitation:
202 W. Maple Street Willard OH 44890 10/26/2017 24:00:00

Service:
10/26/2017 14:00:00

Leslie John Palkuti age 78, died following a courageous battle with cancer on Thursday, October 19. He was born in Szeged, Hungary, May 7, 1939, and immigrated to the United States with his family in 1951, later becoming a citizen. He graduated from The Ohio State University in 1966 with a bachelors and masters degree in electrical engineering and with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1971, again in electrical engineering. He was a lifelong member of the Ohio State Alumni Association and won the Best Buckeye Award for producing an excellent Alumni Club newsletter for many years. Putting it mildly, Les was an avid fan of Ohio State football. Les loved to windsurf, ski, and play tennis when he was not passionately working as an electrical engineer. Beginning his career with Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio, then worked at ARACOR Corporation in Sunnyvale, California; developing several patented pieces of equipment in that industry.
For a time he worked in Washington DC with the Naval Research Laboratory. He later worked with the Department of Defense and the DoD Threat Reduction Agency where he was instrumental in developing the Science and Technology Roadmap that governs radiation hardened circuits; essentially establishing the DoD strategy in this area. Les became the first director fo the Agency’s new Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction Basic Research Initiative where he created a legacy of successful university contributions to specific national security concerns, and, thus, humanity in general. The program has grown to include over 70 university grants and 10 laboratory research projects. His efforts in establishing this program on detecting and combating WMD have led to a safer world. Les was a Veteran of the United States Army, a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church, and professionally, a life member of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineering.
Les is survived by his wife of 53 years, Harlene Stapf Palkuti, brother Gabriel (Marisa), niece Carla Palkuti, great-nephews Brennen and Christian Quinn, and former sister-in-law Joan Thornton Palkuti. His father Leslie John Palkuti, mother Gabriella (nee Nagy) Palkuti, and infant brother Peter predeceased him. Les was a wonderful son; husband, brother, uncle, and friend who unconditionally loved his family and friends.
Visitation will be Monday, October 23, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Demaine Funeral Home, 520 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. A funeral mass will be at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 24, at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 8710 Mt. Vernon Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309 followed by a reception at the church.
Visitation will continue at the Secor Funeral Home in Willard on Thursday, October 26, 2017 from 12:00 – 2:00 PM. Graveside services will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Willard, Ohio with Father George Mahas officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The John Glenn College of Public Affairs Endowment Fund, 1810 College Road, Columbus, OH 42310.