John Howard Lewis
1953-11-13 2011-04-18
John Howard Lewis Of Saline, MI
John Howard Lewis, Ph.D., age 57 years, passed away April 18, 2011 at his home in Saline, Michigan. At the time of his passing he was surrounded by family and friends. John fought an eight plus year battle with colon cancer, often volunteering as a patient for clinical drug trials/studies at the University of Michigan Hospital. John was born November 13, 1953 to Howard and Lucille Lewis, Urbana Ohio. John cherished his wife and family. He is survived by his wife, Pamela (Polk) of 22 years; brother, Mark W. Lewis (Carol) of Dearborn, MI; nephews, Christopher R. Lewis of Detroit MI, James Pence Jr. of Saint Paris, Ohio; nieces, Danielle D. and Carlye L. Lewis of Dearborn MI, Barbara Pence of San Antonio, TX. John also enjoyed close relationships with sisters-in-law, Bonnie Penet (Ed) and Linda Charboneau; brothers-in-law, John Pokrzywnicki and Michael Polk (Deborah); nieces and nephews, Erica Charboneau, Evette deKoning (Jan), Georgette Walters (Troy), Elizabeth Frederick (Mike), Randi MacKenzie (Shawn), Jody Polk (Emi), George Charboneau, Jonathon Pokrzywnicki, Emily Porres (Sergio), Derek and Daena Polk. Providing companionship and comfort to John were the family pets, Sugie, Max and Mr. Wu. John was preceded in death by his parents, Howard (1977) and Lucille (2002); sisters, Ann Elizabeth (1957) and Linda (Lewis) Pence (1989).
John Lewis graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from Macalaster College, Saint Paul, Minnesota. Here he also received numerous awards and honors. In 1979, John earned a PhD in mathematics from Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio. During his post-doc years, Dr. Lewis published numerous papers while working at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). After teaching mathematics at William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia, John joined the faculty at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 1987. He loved teaching, and thoroughly enjoyed engaging in conversation and dialogue with students. Among his other interests was the cultivation and photography of orchids, his award winning photographs having graced the covers of Orchids: The Magazine of the American Orchid Society. In addition John was an avid gardener and collector of Art and Art Pottery.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held on Tuesday, April 26, at the Nie Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103. Visitation will begin at Noon followed by the memorial service at 1:00 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to University of Michigan Cancer Center Helping Hands Fund, 2800 Plymouth Road, Bldg 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800.
John Howard Lewis, Ph.D., age 57 years, passed away April 18, 2011 at his home in Saline, Michigan. At the time of his passing he was surrounded by family and friends. John fought an eight plus year battle with colon cancer, often volunteering as a patient for clinical drug trials/studies at the University of Michigan Hospital. John was born November 13, 1953 to Howard and Lucille Lewis, Urbana Ohio. John cherished his wife and family. He is survived by his wife, Pamela (Polk) of 22 years; brother, Mark W. Lewis (Carol) of Dearborn, MI; nephews, Christopher R. Lewis of Detroit MI, James Pence Jr. of Saint Paris, Ohio; nieces, Danielle D. and Carlye L. Lewis of Dearborn MI, Barbara Pence of San Antonio, TX. John also enjoyed close relationships with sisters-in-law, Bonnie Penet (Ed) and Linda Charboneau; brothers-in-law, John Pokrzywnicki and Michael Polk (Deborah); nieces and nephews, Erica Charboneau, Evette deKoning (Jan), Georgette Walters (Troy), Elizabeth Frederick (Mike), Randi MacKenzie (Shawn), Jody Polk (Emi), George Charboneau, Jonathon Pokrzywnicki, Emily Porres (Sergio), Derek and Daena Polk. Providing companionship and comfort to John were the family pets, Sugie, Max and Mr. Wu. John was preceded in death by his parents, Howard (1977) and Lucille (2002); sisters, Ann Elizabeth (1957) and Linda (Lewis) Pence (1989).
John Lewis graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from Macalaster College, Saint Paul, Minnesota. Here he also received numerous awards and honors. In 1979, John earned a PhD in mathematics from Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio. During his post-doc years, Dr. Lewis published numerous papers while working at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). After teaching mathematics at William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia, John joined the faculty at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 1987. He loved teaching, and thoroughly enjoyed engaging in conversation and dialogue with students. Among his other interests was the cultivation and photography of orchids, his award winning photographs having graced the covers of Orchids: The Magazine of the American Orchid Society. In addition John was an avid gardener and collector of Art and Art Pottery.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held on Tuesday, April 26, at the Nie Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103. Visitation will begin at Noon followed by the memorial service at 1:00 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to University of Michigan Cancer Center Helping Hands Fund, 2800 Plymouth Road, Bldg 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800.