Harry Moore Pastra-Landis, 87
Dateline: Norton, MA
Harry Moore “Jim” Pastra-Landis, age 87, of Norton died unexpectedly at home on the morning of Sunday, April 28, 2013, after a long and fulfilling life. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Elita Pastra-Landis.
Born in Sewickley, PA on December 9, 1925, he was a son of the late Harry M., Jr. and Mabel (Snyder) Landis. In 1930 the family moved to Royal Oak, MI, near Detroit. Jim graduated from Royal Oak High School and immediately enlisted in the United States Army. On Christmas Day of 1944 he was transferred to the European Theatre. He was stationed at St. Nazaire in France until VJ day, and was later transferred to the Army of Occupation in Vienna, Austria. Following his discharge from the Army in the late spring of 1946, Jim returned home, where he married Helen (Smith) Landis (recently deceased) and together they attended the College of Wooster in Ohio. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics in 1948, and later earned his Master’s degree from the University of Minnesota in 1950.
Jim’s first teaching position was at East Central State College, Ada, Oklahoma from 1950 to 1953. He then joined the Department of Physics at Wheaton College. At the time he taught all courses in Physics that the college offered, from the introductory to the advanced level. A pioneer teacher, Jim developed a course in Solid State Electronics for majors in Physics that was inspired by his years as a consultant with industry in solid-state materials, with six patents under his name. In 1972, Jim also crossed disciplinary barriers by teaching a seminar for entering students, who studied both Physics and Philosophy. He also developed a course he named “The Sound of Music” on the scientific basis of music for non-major students. Collaborating with colleagues across campus, he taught the History of Technology in the early 1980s. Jim served as head of the Physics Department for some forty years, until he retired in 1992.
Jim was a naturalist and bird-watcher who inspired family and friends with his love of the natural world. He enjoyed traveling, and visited Europe often. In his later years, his interest in marine ecosystems led him on snorkeling trips throughout the Caribbean. In January of 2010 he traveled through the Panama Canal. In addition to traveling and spending time with his family Jim enjoyed maintaining his flower and vegetable gardens. He had an extensive collection of orchids and African violets of which he was especially proud. He was an accomplished wood worker with a unique talent, having designed and created many items by hand using unusual woods. A gourmet cook, Jim was known for his meticulously organized binders of recipes.
A resident of Norton since 1953, Jim was a member of the Norton Finance Committee from January of 1962 until July of 1978; he served as Chair of the Committee for the last 9 ½ years of that time.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his six children, Carolyn Kelly and Harry Landis both of Norton, Hugh Landis and his wife Terry of Jaffrey, NH; Howard Landis and his wife Lois of Essex Junction, VT; Gordon Landis of Stow; Tanya Laidlaw and her husband Nicholas of Needham. He was the dear brother of Marjorie Farnham and her husband Edward of Michigan, and is also survived by eight grandchildren and two great granddaughters.
There are no visiting hours; expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.nortonmemorial.com In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made toward the Pastra-Landis Prize in Physics; please make checks to “Wheaton College”. A memorial service in honor of his life is planned for Monday the 20th of May at 5:00 p.m. in Mary Lyon Hall at Wheaton College.
Dateline: Norton, MA
Harry Moore “Jim” Pastra-Landis, age 87, of Norton died unexpectedly at home on the morning of Sunday, April 28, 2013, after a long and fulfilling life. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Elita Pastra-Landis.
Born in Sewickley, PA on December 9, 1925, he was a son of the late Harry M., Jr. and Mabel (Snyder) Landis. In 1930 the family moved to Royal Oak, MI, near Detroit. Jim graduated from Royal Oak High School and immediately enlisted in the United States Army. On Christmas Day of 1944 he was transferred to the European Theatre. He was stationed at St. Nazaire in France until VJ day, and was later transferred to the Army of Occupation in Vienna, Austria. Following his discharge from the Army in the late spring of 1946, Jim returned home, where he married Helen (Smith) Landis (recently deceased) and together they attended the College of Wooster in Ohio. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics in 1948, and later earned his Master’s degree from the University of Minnesota in 1950.
Jim’s first teaching position was at East Central State College, Ada, Oklahoma from 1950 to 1953. He then joined the Department of Physics at Wheaton College. At the time he taught all courses in Physics that the college offered, from the introductory to the advanced level. A pioneer teacher, Jim developed a course in Solid State Electronics for majors in Physics that was inspired by his years as a consultant with industry in solid-state materials, with six patents under his name. In 1972, Jim also crossed disciplinary barriers by teaching a seminar for entering students, who studied both Physics and Philosophy. He also developed a course he named “The Sound of Music” on the scientific basis of music for non-major students. Collaborating with colleagues across campus, he taught the History of Technology in the early 1980s. Jim served as head of the Physics Department for some forty years, until he retired in 1992.
Jim was a naturalist and bird-watcher who inspired family and friends with his love of the natural world. He enjoyed traveling, and visited Europe often. In his later years, his interest in marine ecosystems led him on snorkeling trips throughout the Caribbean. In January of 2010 he traveled through the Panama Canal. In addition to traveling and spending time with his family Jim enjoyed maintaining his flower and vegetable gardens. He had an extensive collection of orchids and African violets of which he was especially proud. He was an accomplished wood worker with a unique talent, having designed and created many items by hand using unusual woods. A gourmet cook, Jim was known for his meticulously organized binders of recipes.
A resident of Norton since 1953, Jim was a member of the Norton Finance Committee from January of 1962 until July of 1978; he served as Chair of the Committee for the last 9 ½ years of that time.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his six children, Carolyn Kelly and Harry Landis both of Norton, Hugh Landis and his wife Terry of Jaffrey, NH; Howard Landis and his wife Lois of Essex Junction, VT; Gordon Landis of Stow; Tanya Laidlaw and her husband Nicholas of Needham. He was the dear brother of Marjorie Farnham and her husband Edward of Michigan, and is also survived by eight grandchildren and two great granddaughters.
There are no visiting hours; expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.nortonmemorial.com In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made toward the Pastra-Landis Prize in Physics; please make checks to “Wheaton College”. A memorial service in honor of his life is planned for Monday the 20th of May at 5:00 p.m. in Mary Lyon Hall at Wheaton College.
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