Walpole - Jutta Thea Wilhelmina Agathe Sophia (Soest) Sich, passed away at her home Thursday, December 29, 2011 surrounded by family.
Born in Wilhelmsburg (Hamburg), Germany on May 5th, 1930, Jutta was was the daughter of the late Willy and Margarethe "Grete" (Hose) Soest. She was the oldest of 3 siblings. In 1967, Jutta married Eugene John Sich, who survives.
She graduated from the Federal School of Engineering (Königlich-Preußischen Maschinenbau- und Hüttenschule) in Essen, Germany. Jutta became the first female purser of the SS Seven Seas where she saw the World and was responsible for rescuing the lives of ~400 refugees during the French Indochina War (Vietnam). She then immigrated to the USA and worked as a Fiber Microscopist for FRL (later Albany International) for over 38 years. Her work was featured in Time magazine as a "Cashmere Cop", and she was also responsible for all of the Space Shuttle's heat resistant Nomex surface insulation. As result she became a Chair of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists. She also enjoyed being a Walpole School bus driver for 4 years.
Jutta loved swimming, sailing, travel, cooking and socializing. She always made it a point to go swimming in Willet Pond on the 1st of May. Her infectious optimism and love of life would light up any room.
She is survived by her husband, Eugene Sich, her only son and his wife, Mark and Andrea Sich, her brother and sister-in-law, Claus and Marly Soest, and her Nephew and his wife, Matthias and Sabrina Soest.
A Friends & Family service will be held May 1st to scatter her ashes as per her final wishes. Memorial gifts may be made to the Beacon Hospice Inc , 45 N. Main St in Fall River, MA 02720, or the Philanthropy Department of Education and Research in Gastroenterology, Lahey Clinic, 41 Burlington Mall Rd, Burlington, MA 01805 . Arrangements are under the care of the Ginley Funeral Home, 892 Main St. Walpole.