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James Mellon deMontmollin, 87, passed away on Saturday, October 27, 2007. He lost his lovely wife, Nina and their first daughter, Kathy just three months before. He truly missed them. He is survived by his tree remaining daughters, Linda McCowen and husband, David, Merrie Blue and husband, David and Michele Salazar and husband, John; his brother, Richard and wife, Elizabeth; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Jim was born Palatka, FL, to Harry and Virginia deMontmollin on November 10, 1919. He was from a large family with seven children. Jim had a lifelong love of the water as he grew up along the St. Johns River and the Atlantic Ocean. His family enabled him to attend Georgia School of Technology graduating in 1942 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. While working as a co-operative student, Jim was employed by Alabama Power Co. and the Magnolia Petroleum Co. in Louisiana. He met Nina May Snead at a Georgia Tech party in May 1942. So captivated by her, he proposed in November and they were married on January 5, 1943. Upon graduation, he became a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army, serving in the Signal Corps in Saipan and Okinawa. Later he was called back as a reservist during the Koran War, but was sent to Germany. He brought his wife and two eldest daughters there for eight months were he and Nina began a lifelong enjoyment of traveling to many places around the world. In 1952, the family moved to Albuquerque where his other daughters were born. Jim began his career with Sandia Labs as an electrical engineer. He worked on the tracking systems for thermonuclear weapons. Jim's career eventually evolved into Nuclear Safeguards and the peaceful use of atomic energy. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Member of Technical Staff Award, and retired in 1986; he continued as a respected reviewer and consultant in his field. His talent for technical writing is reflected in the many now-unclassified papers he wrote, all of which will be donated to the National Atomic Museum. Jim loved music, especially polkas, dancing with his wife, skiing, hiking with his dogs, traveling with Nina, and discussing politics and the issues of the day. He designed and helped to build a beautiful, alpine-style house on the edge of Albuquerque, where he and Nina enjoyed the city lights. In 1965, Jim and Nina bought and renovated an historic house in Crested Butte, CO, a perfect place to ski with friends in the winter and to relax in the summer. He was very proud of the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren. But most of all, Jim loved his wife of 64 years and their very fulfilling life together. Contributions in Jim's memory may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104, Doctors Without Borders, P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 27141-5030 or The National Atomic Museum, Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM. A Celebration of his life will be held Monday, November 5, 2007, 2:30 p.m., at French Mortuary, Lomas Blvd. Chapel. A reception will follow at the Edelweiss AM Rio Grande German American Club, 4821 Menaul Blvd. NE. French Mortuary, Inc. 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE 505.275.3500 www.frenchmortuary.com
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