Obituary of Donald Gordon James

Donald Gordon James, 82, of State College, died Monday, December 21, 2020, at Juniper Village At Brookline.

Born March 18, 1938, in Auckland, New Zealand, he was the son of the late Ian and Betty James and married to Ingrid Sander, who preceded him in death. Donald is survived by one son, Alex James of Pittsburgh, his wife and two grandchildren and relatives residing in Auckland, Massachusetts, and Los Angeles.

Donald's childhood was enjoyed in the coastal cities of Auckland and Sydney Australia. During that time, he received the degrees of B.Sc. (in mathematics and physics) and M.Sc. (in mathematics with 1st class honors) from Auckland University and enjoyed such interests as chess, classical music, and cricket. He was also proud and would want mention of his brief service in the New Zealand Army as an artillery spotter.

To continue his education, Donald left New Zealand as a Fulbright Scholar and attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received his Ph.D in 1963 (in mathematics). Donald joined the faculty of Pennsylvania State University in 1966 where he taught for over 40 years. Additional noteworthy mathematical achievements include an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship in 1973-74 and teaching as a visiting scholar at M.I.T in 1987. Donald was always a popular choice for students with his unique Kiwi accent. He retired as a Professor Emeritus and his final position held was as a Director at the National Science Foundation in Washington DC.

Donald's passion in life was travel and the performing arts. His travels were continuous and exotic, having touched all continents at least twice. With too many tales to list, highlights must include seeing the crown jewels of the Shah of Iran, African safari in the 1960s, a month in China in the 1980s, the Galapagos and Easter Islands, walking Machu Picchu, trekking the Milford trail with his son and stargazing through the Arecibo Observatory in Peru. Having saved every playbill, those memories now fill cabinets and include performances at all the major operas, ballets, orchestras, and theaters from New York, to London, to Paris, to Berlin, to St Petersburg and even Moscow. Making all these adventures more special is knowing that they were almost always accompanied by his wonderful wife, Ingrid. Always ready with a glass of wine for guests, Donald was a wonderful and cultured man whose stories will be missed by many.

Services and burial will be private at the convenience of the family.

Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.