Ned Eugene Abbott passed away at his home in Pagosa Springs on Nov. 1, 2013, after a 13-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Dr. Abbott was born on Nov. 7, 1939, in Dallas, Texas. He grew up in Highland Park and graduated from Highland Park High School in 1957. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from SMU in 1962, then went on to earn his master’s degree from the University of Southern California and his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1971. He enjoyed all aspects of engineering and, during a long career, worked at many of the major engineering firms, including Texas Instruments, Hughes Aircraft, Cooley Electronics Lab at the University of Michigan, Bell Laboratories, Collins Radio, Rockwell International, Loral Corporation and E Systems/Raytheon. He published a number of technical papers and held seven patents. He especially enjoyed teaching young minds and taught both undergraduate and graduate engineering courses at the University of Michigan, the University of Texas at Arlington and DeVry University.
Ned’s zest for life led him to a number of leisure time passions that he enjoyed with family and friends including restoring, driving and racing vintage Porsches, flying both sailplanes and aerobatic airplanes, fly fishing, hunting, photography and riding his BMW motorcycles.
Though he was committed to his work and his hobbies, it was his family and friends that Ned cherished most. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Dee Ann Abbott, his children Anne White and husband Terry of Grovetown, Ga., Susan Sevier and husband Jerry of Mansfield, Texas, Dr. Ben Abbott and wife Nancy of San Antonio, Texas, David Abbott and wife Justine of Pagosa Springs, Heather Abbott of Dallas, Texas, Daniel Abbott of Durango, Colo., sister Mary Lea Butler of Hot Springs Village, Ark., brother Paul Abbott of Chico, Calif., six grandchildren and one great-grandchild, his best friends Dave Smith of Murray, Utah, and Joe Weisner of Allen Park, Mich., and his black Lab, Jake.
Friends and family may leave their condolences at nedabbottmemorial.wordpress.com.
Memorials contributions may be made to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation at www.pdf.org or to the charity of your choice.
At his request, no public service is planned.
