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James A. Dowling, age 69, a resident of Albuquerque, died on July 7, 2008. Jim was born and raised in Washington, D.C., where he graduated from Gonzaga High School and attended The Catholic University of America, where he earned both a B.A. and a PhD in Physics, with a dissertation in Spectroscopy. His career as an optical scientist spanned over 40 years during which he specialized in the development of a wide variety of optical instruments and laser propagation experiments. He led and participated in numerous field experiments related to measurements of long-path atmospheric transmission and atmospheric turbulence effects on High Energy Lasers. These measurements were made in such diverse places as Cape Canaveral, White Sands Missile Range, Coastal California, and Hawaii. Jim published over 100 journal articles, papers and technical reports, and was an invited speaker at conferences both in the U.S. and abroad. He was a member of the Optical Society of America and SPIE, the Optical Engineering Society. His career in optics encompassed both the public and private sectors. He worked as a research physicist at AVCO, the Naval Research Laboratory, OptiMetrics, and most recently for Applied Technology Associates in Albuquerque, where he worked closely with the Air Force Research Laboratory. In 1985, he joined the Muffoletto Optical Co. as Vice President, and from 1987 to 1992, he was the President and co-founder of NU-TEK Precision Optical Company in Belcamp, MD. In addition to his outstanding accomplishments in optics, Jim's multi-dimensional talents led him to achievements in other areas. He pursued many varied interests during his lifetime including sailing, art, classical music, the literature of James Joyce, woodworking, gourmet cooking, collecting cars for restoration, travel in Europe and winemaking. His passion for fine wine led him to his second career. After many years of amateur winemaking, sampling and collecting fine wines from all over the world, Jim decided to formally study viticulture and oenology. He planted a vineyard in Las Nutrias in 1996, and subsequently founded Tierra Encantada Winery in 2005, where he served as President and winemaker until his death. As part of his second career, he also served as the President of the Rio Grande Chapter of the New Mexico Vine and Wine Society and a member of the Board of Directors of New Mexico Wine Country. Jim is mourned by his family and all who knew him as a friend, a physicist, and a winemaker. He is survived by his devoted wife and companion of 23 years, Pat Coil; his loving children, Jim's pride and joy, Brigid Kenney and her husband, Dan, of Mechanicsville, MD; Stephen Dowling and his wife, Joni, of Woodbridge, VA; Kevin Dowling of Chantilly, VA; and their mother, Carol Dowling, of Annapolis, MD; and his granddaughter, Ashton Kenney, of Mechanicsville, MD, the bright hope for the future. A Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 10, 2008, from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., and a Memorial Service will be held in his honor on Saturday, July 12, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.; both will be held at Daniels Family Funeral Services-Carlisle Chapel, 3113 Carlisle Blvd NE, 505-884-1188. Funeral services are entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Services 3113 Carlisle Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87110 (505)884-1188 www.danielsfuneral.com
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