SPIE Member Charles Seashore, a pioneer in millimeter wave technology who mentored hundreds of scientists and engineers over the last 45 years, died suddenly on 27 June in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was 83.
Seashore began working on military systems and products in Honeywell's R&D divisions in California and Minnesota in the 1960s and later joined Alliant Tech Systems as a technical manager.
At Honeywell, where he was elected a Senior Fellow for his expertise in radar and infrared sensors, Seashore received many technical awards including the company's highest honor, the H.W. Sweatt Award for work in short-wavelength radar systems.
Seashore published more than 100 technical papers, contributed to four engineering technical books, and held three patents.
At Alliant Tech Systems, he managed numerous high-tech programs including missile system development. His final work with the company involved the management of Y2K compliance for the Defense Systems Division.
He retired in the 1990s and spent the next 20 years as a volunteer counselor with the SCORE Association, mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs. In 2007, the U.S. Small Business Administration honored him with the Minnesota Minority Small Business Champion of the Year Award.
He held a BSEE in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and completed work for an MSEE at University of Alabama. His PhD studies were at University of California, Los Angeles.
Seashore also served in the U.S. Army for five years as a commissioned officer and was assigned to the Space Development Program in Huntsville, Alabama.
Survivors include his wife, Dolores, three children, and two granddaughters.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am, Monday, 11 July at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Edina, Minnesota. Visitation with the family will be at 10 am. Burial will follow at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Institute of Technology at University of Minnesota.