Kenneth Allen Green

Beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother, Ken Green, of Los Altos Hills, passed away at the age of 71 on May 16, (2008). Through a year-long struggle with brain cancer, he never wavered from the grace and dignity that defined his character and the wit and humor that signified his personality.

Although leaving many years too soon, he never despaired of the tragedy that such a healthy, vibrant, youthful life was to end with so much more living yet to do. He was a person of principle and compassion for people, and great intellect and insight into the world around him. His humility, moral character, generosity of spirit and engaging personality readily endeared him to people.

Ken Green was one of those rare personalities who was liked by everyone who knew him, and he is missed by those who loved him more than can be expressed in words. Ken was born in San Mateo on December 28, 1936 to Boynton and Elizabeth Green, both faculty members at Stanford University. He grew up on the Stanford campus, first attending Dartmouth College and then Stanford, earning a BS in mechanical engineering in 1959, an MS in mechanical engineering in 1960, and an MS in petroleum engineering in 1983. While at Stanford, he was a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society and the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

He worked for 22 years as an aerospace engineer specializing in environmental and thermal control for space systems and other applications. Midlife inspiration for a new direction to his career saw him go back to school, earning a second masters degree to pursue a career in petroleum engineering. He later returned to mechanical engineering as the world oil economy changed, and spent the remaining 15 years on strategic defense projects. Always conflicted ethically about his work on weapons systems, he retired in 1998 at age 61.

In retirement, Ken continued to pursue his longtime love of backpacking and mountaineering with his children in his beloved Sierra Nevada, international travel with his wife, golf and tennis, and fishing in the Desolation Wilderness area near the family summer cabin built by his father in 1945 at Fallen Leaf Lake. His ascent of Mount Whitney in 16 hours at age 69 was testament to his incredible fitness, youthfulness, and enthusiasm for life.

Although he reached many summits, his last challenge was a mountain that was simply too difficult for any man to conquer. Ken Green is survived by his wife Joan Green of Los Altos Hills; children: Bill Green of Napa, Carolyn Westgaard of Palo Alto, and Sarah Green of South Lake Tahoe; as well as sisters, Nancy Thompson of Palo Alto and Doctor Barbara Jessen of Seattle. He is also survived by his stepchildren: Hank Lewis of Fox Island, WA, Kathy Bixby of Granite Bay, Michael Lewis of Palo Alto, Brian Lewis of Meadow Vista, CA; and 14 grandchildren.

In honor of his 56 years as a member, donations may be made to the Sierra Club at 85 Second Street, Second Floor, San Francisco, California, 94105.

Published in San Francisco Chronicle on May 22, 2008

Provided by daughter: Carolyn Green Westgaard