GOETZEL, HOLLEY, KALLMANN

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Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Monday, February 06, 2006 at 14:34:18 :

San Francisco Chronicle
Saturday, July 21, 2001
A18

Claus Goetzel
by Marsha Ginsburg, Chronicle Staff Writer

Claus G. Goetzel, an inventor and manufacturer whose patents strongly contributed to America's defense in World War II, has died. at the age of 87.

Professor Goetzel died July 7 at his home in Portola Valley. A memorial service and celebration was held in Palo Alto a week later, on what would have been his 88th birthday.

Born in Berlin on July 14, 1913, Professor Goetzel came to the United States in 1936 after receiving his degree in engineering at the Technical University in Berlin. He received a doctorate at Columbia University in 1939.

He married Lilo Kallmann in 1938 in New York City.

Professor Goetzel's 60-year career included a long stint at the American Electro Metal Corp., where he served as technical director from 1938 through 1947. He assisted in the war effort by developing and manufacturing special armor-piercing shells used against the German forces.

He also developed crucial parts for proximity fuses that enabled the Navy to shoot down kamikaze planes without having to achieve direct hits. Outside of the atomic bomb, it was the most important tool the Navy had in its war effort against Japan.

He was also founder of Sintercast Corp. America and obtained more than 30 patents.

He later turned to academia, when he joined the faculty of New York University's Bronx campus.

From 1960 through 1978, Professor Goetzel was a consulting scientist at Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. in Sunnyvale.

Between 1949 and 1963, he also wrote five volumes of a "Treatise on Power Metallurgy" and was a visiting lecturer at Stanford University from 1961 through 1988.

Besides his wife, Professor Goetzel is survived by his son, Rodney, of Glendale, and his daughter, Vivian Holley, of Mill Valley.

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Message:	: San Francisco Chronicle : Saturday, July 21, 2001 : A18 : Claus Goetzel : by Marsha Ginsburg, Chronicle Staff Writer : Claus G. Goetzel, an inventor and manufacturer whose patents strongly contributed to America's defense in World War II, has died. at the age of 87. : Professor Goetzel died July 7 at his home in Portola Valley. A memorial service and celebration was held in Palo Alto a week later, on what would have been his 88th birthday. : Born in Berlin on July 14, 1913, Professor Goetzel came to the United States in 1936 after receiving his degree in engineering at the Technical University in Berlin. He received a doctorate at Columbia University in 1939. : He married Lilo Kallmann in 1938 in New York City. : Professor Goetzel's 60-year career included a long stint at the American Electro Metal Corp., where he served as technical director from 1938 through 1947. He assisted in the war effort by developing and manufacturing special armor-piercing shells used against the German forces. : He also developed crucial parts for proximity fuses that enabled the Navy to shoot down kamikaze planes without having to achieve direct hits. Outside of the atomic bomb, it was the most important tool the Navy had in its war effort against Japan. : He was also founder of Sintercast Corp. America and obtained more than 30 patents. : He later turned to academia, when he joined the faculty of New York University's Bronx campus. : From 1960 through 1978, Professor Goetzel was a consulting scientist at Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. in Sunnyvale. : Between 1949 and 1963, he also wrote five volumes of a "Treatise on Power Metallurgy" and was a visiting lecturer at Stanford University from 1961 through 1988. : Besides his wife, Professor Goetzel is survived by his son, Rodney, of Glendale, and his daughter, Vivian Holley, of Mill Valley. :