Obituary of Michael J. Gans
Michael J. Gans, age 84, of the Town of Western, passed away peacefully on February 29, 2020, at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, surrounded by his family.
Mike was born in Genesee, ID on November 28, 1935 to the late Raymond and Isabel Attlesey Gans. He received his Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from Notre Dame University in 1957, his Master’s in 1961, and his Ph.D. in 1965, both from the University of California, Berkeley. On November 30, 1957, he was united in marriage to the former Mary Louise Hoffman; a blessed union of nearly 59 years until her passing on November 28, 2016. He worked for Bell Labs from 1966 to 2001, retiring after 35 years from Lucent Technologies. Afterwards, he worked at Griffiss AFB for the Air Force Research Laboratory from 2003 to his retirement in 2016.
In his career, Mike had been engaged in research on advanced mobile radio and satellite communications, in particular, MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output antenna) technology. He has authored over 50 research papers and has been granted over 30 patents. He was also recognized for contributions to the theory and design of mobile personal communications. Mike joined the IEEE as a student member on November 1, 1960, became an IEEE Fellow on January 1, 1993, and a Life Fellow on January 1, 2012.
Mike is survived by his four daughters, Olivia Turner (Robert), Julianne Stokes (Jon), Kathleen Magnusson (Todd), and Margaret Graham (Steven), and three sons, Michael (Kevin), James, and William “Bill” (Rachel); 22 grandchildren, six great grandchildren; a brother and sister in law, Ray and Joanne Gans; a sister, Susan McCarthy; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends. He was predeceased by a daughter, Virginia Byrd.
Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Barry Funeral Home, 807 W. Chestnut Street.
Please offer online condolences at: www.BarryFuneralHome.com.
