William Chester Kossack

September 30, 1924 - January 30, 2015

they awarded him a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering (in only 9 months) thus becoming one of the first environmental engineers. He was a former President of the America Industrial Hygienist Association and was awarded a Lifetime Membership. He retired in 1987 as Chief, Environmental Protection. After retirement Margaret and Bill traveled extensively both foreign and domestic. Being lifelong learners they travelled extensively with Elderhostels. He was an active member of Trinity Presbyterian Church for 60 years up until his death. William is survived of his wife of 66 years, 3 children David Kossack, Thomas Kossack (Susan) and Catherine Fox (Peter), 3 grandchildren Catherine, Christopher and Ian. Services will be held on February 21, 2015 at 2 pm. Trinity Presbyterian Church 1106 Alameda de las Pulgas San Carlos With a Happy Hour to follow at 793 Elm, First floor social room, all welcome.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation in his name to the Trinity Presbyterian Church Deacon’s Fund or the charity of your choice.

Bill was born in West Los Angles to Walter and Elizabeth Kossack. Graduated from University High School in 1942. He attended one semester at UCLA before being called up to the Army Air Corps. He applied and was accepted to a special program to be trained as a Radar Countermeasures Officer. His 2 years of training took him to numerous places including Pomona College and Yale University. Upon completion, he was one of eleven who received their commission and he was assigned to a B-24 “Ferret”. The Plane carried no bombs, but was filled with state of the art electronics from MIT. The Raven officers, as they were called, job was to locate and analyze enemy radar prior to an attack. With orders in hand to ship out in preparation of the invasion of Japan, The Bomb was dropped thus avoiding a dangerous mission. He served out his tour as the Base Fire Marshal at Clark Field, Philippines. After his discharge he returned to UCLA studying Mechanical Engineering. There he met the love of his life, Margaret Peterson. They were married in 1948 and immediately moved to Indiana where Bill earned his B.S. in M. E. at Purdue University. They returned to California with him taking a job with Employer’s Mutual of Wausau. In 1958, in the beginning of the space race, Bill took a job at the new Lockheed Missiles and Space plant in Sunnyvale. During his 28 years at Lockheed, he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship at Harvard University’s School of Public Health. Because of his B.S. in Engineering