Retired MIE Faculty Member Karl Jakus Passes Away
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Karl Jakus, who was a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the UMass Amherst before his retirement in 2007, has died after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. As his obituary on the website of the Douglas Family Service explained, “Karl Jakus passed away peacefully at the Hospice of the Fisher Home [in Amherst] on January 18, 2025. Karl was born in Gyor, Hungary, to Margaret Bodo and Karoly Jakus and emigrated to the United States in 1956 after the Hungarian Revolution.”
According to a message from Professor Sundar Krishnamurty, the head of the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MIE) Department, “It is with profound sadness that I write to inform you about the passing of our esteemed retired faculty member, Karl Jakus. Karl was an integral member of our department and a founding member of our materials-engineering program.”
Krishnamurty also said that “We will fondly remember Karl's unwavering dedication to teaching, mentorship, and the many ways he touched the lives of students and colleagues alike. During this somber moment, our thoughts are with Karl’s family as they navigate this difficult time.”
As the Douglas obituary recalled, “Karl loved to build, fix, and improve things from household projects to car repairs, including at one point his vintage Porsche Carrera. He loved animals and young children. He enjoyed keeping abreast of national and international politics. He treated his two children with respect and admiration.”
The obituary went on to say that “Throughout their 43-year marriage, his most trusted confidant was his devoted wife, Margareta Peregoy, who supported him through the progression of fifteen years of Parkinsons's disease. He often said that his disease taught him about the kindness of humanity because so many strangers helped him when he struggled to move.”
Jakus is survived by his wife, Margareta, his two children, Josh Jakus and Stephanie Jakus, and “his two beloved grandchildren.”
Jakus’ friend and colleague, MIE Emeritus Professor Thomas Blake, said that “I am sad to learn of Karl's death. We worked together both when I was department head and later as colleagues in research on particle classification. He had high professional standards, excellent research instincts, and a strong interest in the welfare of the students. He was an asset to the department, a credit to the profession, and a good man. I will miss him.”
Retired MIE Professor John Ritter added that “Karl was a great colleague, collaborator, and friend.”
Current MIE Professor Yossi Chait offered this wish that summarized how the entire department felt about Jakus: “I truly admired his candor and directness. Rest in peace, Karl.”
A memorial service will be held for Jakus at a later date in the spring. As the Douglas obituary said, “In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (donations [at] michaeljfox [dot] org (donations[at]michaeljfox[dot]org)) or the Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst (www.fisherhome.org). (February 2025)