Page 5 - Visionary-Womens-Afternoon-Tea-2023-tribute-journal
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CONNIE LEE KEITER BREAKING BOUNDARIES AWARD
JOAN & GEORGE PAULIKAS
George and Joan Paulikas Joan and George shared
both grew up in Chicago. a love of the outdoors
George arrived in Chicago and took Nancy with
from Lithuania via refugee them, starting at a very
camps and assorted precocious age hiking,
adventures during and backpacking, and skiing
immediately after WWII. in the Sierra Nevada.
Joan and George met in
high school and stayed After retirement, George
together through college, continued to contribute
although they were at as a senior advisor at
different universities — Aerospace, the Institute
Northwestern for Joan George & Joan Paulikas for Defense Analyses, and
and Illinois for George. the National Academies’
Space Studies Board.
After graduation, they married and moved
to California in 1958. George received a PhD Their parenting skills and intelligence
in physics in 1961 from Cal. Near the end of were evident in Nancy’s academic and
his studies, they welcomed their one and professional achievements. Nancy received
only child, Nancy, into the world. the University Medal in 1982 at UC Davis for
being the most outstanding student; getting
After graduating from Cal, George accepted a master’s degree from UCLA in computer
a position at the fledgling Aerospace Corp in science, and becoming the Vice President
El Segundo. George remained at Aerospace for technology at ITG Corporation, running
for the next 38 years, his distinguished the ITG Los Angeles office, and growing it
career capped by being the Executive Vice from 30 to 200 employees.
President and Chief Operating Officer of
Aerospace. His accomplishments in space Nancy went missing on Oct. 16, 2016, and
science were recognized with awards Joan and George were active from the
by Aerospace, by the Air Force and the beginning in the search for Nancy. The
National Reconnaissance Office. search continued for over two years until
the remains were identified. Concurrently,
While George worked, Joan stayed active Joan and George also participated in
in local politics and developed an interest the Bringing Our Loved Ones Home Task
in flying. She passed that interest on to Force, initiated by Supervisor Janice Hahn,
Nancy. Joan and Nancy both received providing their real-world experience to
their instrument-rated pilot licenses and helping to steer the effort.
flew together for several years on trips
throughout the Southwest US.
