Bernd Crasemann
Former Ajijic resident Bernd Crasemann died peacefully October 28, in his newly adopted home of Davis, California.
Born in Hamburg, Germany, on January 23, 1922, Bernd was raised in Valparaíso, Chile, where his family moved in 1926 to be near the home of his mother’s family. He received his early education in Chile, a B.A. degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (1948), and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley (1953). He then joined the physics faculty of the University of Oregon, where he was Professor Emeritus and served as professor for almost 40 years. He held visiting appointments at Brookhaven National Laboratory, in the Physics Department of the University of California, Berkeley, the NASA Ames Research Center, the University of Paris VI “Pierre et Marie Curie,” and the Physics Department of Stanford University. His work was in atomic inner-shell physics, particularly as explored with synchrotron radiation. From 1993 to 2007, he held the position of editor of Physical Review A, the leading international journal in atomic, molecular and optical physics, published by the American Physical Society.
Bernd was a true internationalist, comfortable in many cultures. He was fluent in English, Spanish, German and French. As a long-time colleague at the American Physical Society recently commented: “His keen mind, blended with so much kindness, made him loved all over the world.”
Bernd and his wife Joan lived in Riberas del Pilar and Ajijic from 2013 through 2017. Mexico answered a call Bernd felt to return to a Spanish-speaking country in his twilight years. He had first visited Ajijic in January, 1977, and when he turned 90, Lakeside was the one and only place he and Joan considered.
Bernd was predeceased by his parents, Paul Joachim Crasemann and Carlota Heildegard Vorwerk, his first wife Jean Millicent McEown, his second wife Patricia Widney, his sister Christiane Crasemann Collins, brother Malte Crasemann, and two of Pat’s children, Christopher and Peter. He is survived by his wife, Joan, and Pat’s children, Holly and Jon.
To read more about Bernd, his publications, his own stories, see pictures, and contribute your memories, please visit berndcrasemann.com.
Edna Lea(Ament) Kangas
Edna Lea Kangas (nee Ament) died Saturday, November 17, at the age of 88.
Lea was born March 29, 1930, and raised in southern California, the daughter of Hester Columbia Jaynes and Vernon Joseph Ament.
She was the co-founder of Fairmont Private School in Anaheim in 1959, and later Theramedics Home Healthcare.
Following the death of her beloved husband Arthur M. Kangas, she moved to Chapala, where her life “bloomed.” She was a member of the Lake Chapala Society for more than ten years, enjoyed art classes with Efren Gonzalez, grew and sold organic starter plants at Ajijic’s Organic Farmer’s Market and earned the 2005 Award for Outstanding Literary Achievement from the lakeside publication El Ojo Del Lago.
Lea is survived by her son Steven and daughter Rebecca, along with four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and her devoted cat “Sugarplum.”
A small memorial wake will be held at Lea’s home, Calle Acapulco 31, in Chapala, Thursday, November 29, 1 p.m.