Dr. Hal Gascoigne, a former faculty member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, passed on July 21, 2016, surrounded by his family in Nipomo, California. Gascoigne served as a mechanical engineering faculty member from 1968 to 1975 before leaving to join Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo, California.
He returned to the University of Utah Department of Mechanical Engineering on several occasions over the past 15 years to collaborate on research projects with Dr. Dan Adams. Gascoigne became a research professor/auxiliary faculty member for the U, and taught several solid mechanics courses in recent years at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Gascoigne was a gifted and creative experimentalist with an exceptional level of attention to detail. He assisted many graduate students in their laboratory work, and enjoyed passing along his knowledge and experiences in experimental mechanics of composites. Additionally, Dr. Gascoigne was a bit of a raconteur fond of recalling his studies and travels around the world to rapt students, staff, and faculty. He will be remembered fondly by those who had the opportunity to work with him.
A service will be held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in San Luis Obispo, CA on August 6th at 11 a.m., and a service will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Salt Lake City, UT at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 8, 2016. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the University of Kansas in Dr. Gascoigne’s name. See the full obituary here.