H. J. Orchard, UCLA Electrical Engineering Professor, Dies at 82

Date: June 28, 2004
Contact: Chris Sutton ( chris@ea.ucla.edu )
Phone: 310-206-0540

Dr. H. J. Orchard, a professor emeritus of electrical engineering at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science and authority on filter design and network theory, died June 23 at his home in Santa Monica of respiratory failure. He was 82.

Orchard became a member of the UCLA faculty in 1970, when he joined the electrical engineering department as a full professor. He retired in 1991 after a long and distinguished career of research, teaching and university service. He was particularly committed to the electrical engineering department and a significant contributor to the circuits and systems community of researchers. He also served as Vice Chair of Graduate Affairs for nearly a decade before retiring in 1991.

"H.J. Orchard was a giant in his field of circuit theory and applications and his genuine interest for the well-being of the department was always appreciated," said Yahya Rahmat-Samii, professor and chair of the electrical engineering department. "We will miss his gentle presence and far-reaching wisdom."

Orchard was born and educated in England. He received his B.Sc. from the University of London in 1946 and his M.Sc. from the same institution in 1951. From 1942 to 1961, he was a lecturer with the engineering department of the British Post Office, where he taught at their Central Training School in Cambridge, England. He also worked on network design problems in their London-based research laboratories.

In 1961, Orchard immigrated to the United States and became a consultant on network design to San Carlos-based GTE Lenkurt, Inc., where he was head of the Networks and Mathematics Group until joining UCLA in 1970.

Orchard continued to work after his retirement from his office in the School of Engineering. In 2003, he received the Technical Achievement Award from the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society, which honors a person for his outstanding technical contributions over a period of years. The citation recognized Orchard for "a sustained record of seminal publications in the field of filter design for more than half a century that have contributed theoretical breakthroughs, new design techniques, and practical advancements."

At the time of his passing, Orchard was being considered for the UCLA Engineering Alumni Association's Lifetime Contribution Award. The School of Engineering will bestow the award to him posthumously at the 2004 Engineering Awards Dinner October 15. Orchard's wife, Marietta, will accept the award on his behalf.

In their letter of support for his nomination, electrical engineering professors Asad Abidi and Alan Willson described Orchard as "a great researcher, a rare and extraordinary teacher, a major reason for the UCLA electrical engineering department's renown and stature, and a modest and always helpful gentleman."

Orchard was highly regarded among colleagues and students as an accomplished teacher.

"John Orchard's teaching style was close to perfection," said electrical engineering professor Asad Abidi. "Using chalk on blackboard and drawing circuit diagrams with great care, he could convey profoundly deep insights in electrical networks and filters that, in many cases, only he possessed."

"It is hard to think of an electrical engineering professor today with the talent, the dedication and the panache who could teach at John's level of artistry," said electrical engineering professor Alan Willson. "Compared to him most of us are clumsy in the classroom."

Orchard is also remembered as a skilled administrator with high standards and a sense of fairness. Electrical engineering professor Chand Viswanathan, who asked Orchard to accept the position of vice-chair of graduate affairs for the department in 1982, knew that he was the right person for the job.

"He did a remarkable and outstanding job making our graduate program the best run program among all departments in the School," said Viswanathan. "I look upon those years when John and I worked together in the departmental administration with sheer joy and count my blessings to have had this pleasure."

Orchard is survived by his wife Marietta, son Richard and grandson Nicholas. The family would appreciate donations to the UCLA Foundation to support the H.J. Orchard Memorial Fellowship. This fellowship will aid an electrical engineering graduate student. Donations and inquiries can be made to 6266 Boelter Hall, Box 951600, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1600, or call (310) 206-0678.