George Arthur Haas

George Arthur Haas, 91, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2018 at Arleigh Burke Pavilion in McLean, Virginia. Dr. Haas was born in Vienna, Austria in 1926 and moved to the U.S. in 1935 when his father, Arthur Erich Haas accepted a professorship at Bowdoin College in Maine. His father, a founder of the theory of quantum physics and pioneer in the field of cosmology, had lectured across the U.S. and saw the center of the scientific world shifting to America. The family settled at the University of Notre Dame; following his father's early death, his mother Emma Beatrice Huber joined the OSS working covertly in Europe. Dr. Haas received his PhD in Physics from Notre Dame after serving two years on U.S. Navy submarines. In 1951, he joined the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC, where he made significant contributions to Navy cathode technology and developed new electronic systems for the Department of Defense. He published close to 100 theoretical papers and received numerous patents. He was chosen by Notre Dame as one of its most distinguished graduates in science at a 100th year anniversary. In 1985 he was awarded the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award. Dr. Haas was devoted to his wife of 61 years, Mary Jane Farrell Haas, and their family. With his wife, he collected early American folk art and paintings. He was an avid fisherman and loved spending summer vacations in Maine. He was also a history enthusiast and Civil War buff, and lectured in Alexandria on artifacts found in nearby battlefields and forts. He regularly served as a judge at local science fairs and passed his love of science on to his grandchildren. He is predeceased by his wife Mary Jane and his brother Arthur. Dr. Haas is survived by his four children, Theresa Krause (Robert) of Winchester, Patricia Haas-Cleveland (David) of New York, Susan Meyer (Ted) of Locust Grove, and Christopher Haas of Berryville; seven grandchildren, Carly Krause McFadden (George), Eric Krause, Carter and Christopher Cleveland, and Theodore, Joseph (Sonia) and Timothy Meyer; and one great-grandchild Lillian McFadden. Friends are welcome to a gathering on Monday, February 19 from 6-8p.m. at Jefferson Funeral Chapel, 5755 Castlewellan Drive, Alexandria. A chapel service followed by a reception will be held on Tuesday, February 20 at 11a.m. at Vinson Hall Retirement Community, 6251 Old Dominion Drive, McLean.

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George Arthur Haas

September 7, 1926 - February 10, 2018