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Dieter Walter Jahns, a 1964 UNM alumni graduate, passed away March 14, 2000 at age 58 after a valiant battle with lung cancer. He was born June 5, 1941 in Braunschweig, Germany, the son of Walter Jahns and Margaret Spocrecke Jahns. He immigrated to the United States in 1953 where he lived many years in Alamogordo, New Mexico and graduated from Alamogordo High School. He attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque where he received his Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Master's degree in Experimental Psychology. He married Karel Kennedy in 1964. He is survived by his wife; son, Steve Jahns and his wife, Julie and his only grandchild, Abby Louise of Bellingham, WA; daughter, Margaret (Marti) Hoefer and her husband, Randy Hoefer of Renton, WA; father, Walter; sister, Elke Iftner and her husband, Marsh of Socorro, NM; and his brother-in-law, Kendall Kennedy and his wife, Cindy of Phoenix, AZ. He was predeceased by his mother, Margaret Jahns in 1974. Dieter worked 16 years for the Boeing Co. in Seattle as a human engineering analyst. For a two-year period he worked at the Research Institute for Human Engineering in Meckenheim/Bonn, F.R. Germany. He later opened his own company, SynerTech Associates, a human factors/ergonomics consulting firm relocated it to Whatcom County in 1981. His work focused on the design/analysis of facilities equipment, tools, and tasks to be compatible with physiological, biomechanical, perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral characteristics of human beings. His speciality was transportation ergonomics in both ground and aeronautical systems. He was instrumental in the formation of the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics (BCPE), in an effort to further define the practice of human factors/ergonomics. Located in Belingham, Washington, BCPE is a nonprofit organization which certifies human factors/ergonomics practitioners-both in the US and internationally through evaluation of applicants educational, work and training criteria and successful completion of an examination. He served as BCPE's Executive Director from 1990 to 1998, and a technical advisor until his death. He was a member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (Puget Sound Chapter), International Egronomics Association, the Association of Aviation Psychologists, and the Society of Automotive Engineers. He was also a member of the Clearbrook Lutheran Church and a member of the Mt. Baker Rotary Club of Lynden. He loved to read, and to learn from what he read about; science, philosophy; current events, human factors/ergonomics development and many other subjects. He was an amazing man, with a sharp mind and a kind heart. He will be deeply missed by family, friends and relatives. A Memorial Service was held on Saturday, March 18. Dieter's ashes will be interred at a family graveside service on Orcas Island, WA at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Dieter requested memorials be made to Whatcom County Hospice, 600 Birchwood, Bellingham, WA 98225.
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