Dr. Fred Edward Holmstrom, PhD.
3/31/1927 ~ 1/14/2008
Man of Science and Religion Fred was born two hours before April Fools Day to Albin Bernhard Holmstrom and Emma Berquist, Swedish immigrants, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the sixth child of eight, and was an extremely inquisitive and inventive child. At 13 he bought and restored his first car. He learned early that you could do anything with a good idea, research and persistence.
While attending West High School, Fred worked at a gas station and the Tower Theatre. He served an LDS mission in Stockholm Sweden from 1947 -1950. In 1951 he met and married Ruth Joy Walton in the LDS Temple. Later divorced. He attended the University of Utah from 1952 -1959, receiving his PhD in physics. While there he taught the first of his many classes. As a graduate student he built a unique radioactive particle counter for his thesis, that measured fallout that rained down on the Salt Lake Valley during the atomic testing era.
Fred worked as a civilian for the Navy with their military guidance system team. He moved to San Jose California to work for IBM on the conceptual and technological development of their computers. He asked for an electron microscope to work with and was told it was not part of the budget, so he scrounged around for the parts and made his own. In 1961 he was employed by Rocketdyne in Northridge, California, working for the department that developed the engines for the Gemini and Apollo space craft. In 1963, he was asked to be the chairman of the physics department at San Jose State University. He also taught at many of the City Colleges and worked with Dr. Shockley at Stanford University. Dr. Holmstrom taught Astronomy classes as well. He learned to love teaching, refining his clever wit and style. His students loved him.
Flying was something that always intrigued him and Fred began to take flying lessons. The gorgeous scenery of California called to him often and he took his family on many road trips and ski weekends.
Dr. Holmstrom consulted with NASA and various computer companies. He worked on several projects on the side including experimentation on particle wave motion, publishing several papers with Jack Churchill at UC Davis. The results, he felt proved that no surface is truly solid, but merely an expression of wave motion. He wrote for many technical journals and college textbooks, on both physics and astronomy.
Many inventions of his found their way to the U.S. Patents Office. He came up with a braking system for semi-trucks that interested Fortune 500, and an idea for a golf ball that eliminated the hook and slice, in 1974 he named it "Polara" and began production. The Wall Street Journal ran an article on the front page the week it was released. The new dimple pattern changed the game of golf forever.
Being deeply religious as well, Fred served in his Bishopric, as a Gospel Doctrine teacher and on the High Council. He was a Seminary teacher and Institute Instructor at SJS University. He wrote many articles and papers. He amassed a vast religious library, sharing his insights with his family, students and friends. He was known for being able to answer any gospel question. Speaking of science and religion he said, "God works with, not in opposition to the natural laws of the universe."
Dr. Holmstrom retired from teaching in 1997, moved to northern California, married Sherry Hartlieb and created a little homestead in the mountains they both loved. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in 2005. He said his greatest joy was to teach and to write. He was buried January 22 in the scenic Janesville Cemetery, just blocks from his home. He will be greatly missed by all who truly knew him....
Dr. Holmstrom is survived by his wife Sherry, two daughters: Laurie McCrea (Jim) and Linda Keesling; three sons: Michael (Rachel), Matt and David. He had 12 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He is also survived by his ex-wife, Ruth and sisters Siri Walsh, Jane Smith and a brother Jack Holmstrom.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund. Condolences: kfink@ funeraltrust.org