Obituary for Carlos Arturo Pomalaza Raez
Carlos Arturo Pomalaza Ráez, age 69, passed away Sunday, March 6, 2022. He was born in the Andes at an altitude of 14,330 feet in Cerro de Pasco, Peru, on May 12, 1952, to Ginés Cesareo Pomalaza Cosme (father) and Haydée Ráez Malpartida (mother). His father was a door-to-door salesman and his mother, a housewife. He was the eldest of 5 brothers: Ginés Eduardo, Jorge Luis, Jose Fernando, and Rodolfo Ernesto. He recently celebrated 40 years of marriage with his spouse, Barbara Ann Lloyd, whom he married in Limerick, Ireland, where their only child, Raoul Daniel Pomalaza-Lloyd was born.
Carlos was a reserved kid and gifted with an outstanding intelligence that always put him at the top of every class. From an early age he was attracted by the wilderness, the cold, and all the books he could find. An avid reader, he was on many occasions a challenge for his teachers, who couldn’t compare him with anyone else. Carlos also enjoyed playing soccer and entertaining his brothers with his knowledge and his stories. He graduated from the Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería with 2 degrees, in electrical engineering and in mechanical engineering, and later worked at the Instituto Geofísica del Peru. He realized that he needed an extra challenge and obtained several scholarships from American universities. He decided to pursue his M.S.E.E. and Ph.D. at Purdue University at the age of 23.
Carlos was dedicated to and passionate about education, having taught and carried out research at the University of Limerick (Ireland), Clarkson University (New York), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (California), the Centre for Wireless Communications, University of Oulu (Finland) and Purdue University Fort Wayne (Indiana). For 32 years, first as Professor of Radio Frequency Communications, then Department Chair, and then Interim Dean, he energetically pursued his vision for the growth of the engineering programs at Purdue University Fort Wayne. He was instrumental in bringing the regional FIRST LEGO League championship to the university. Through teaching, mentoring, and advising, he touched the lives of his many students and colleagues.
Carlos had endless curiosity. Music and languages fascinated him. Coaching ‘football’ for Raoul and his teammates was a great joy. He immersed himself in other cultures, learning new customs and ways of viewing the world. Along with canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and cross-country skiing, he enjoyed many outdoor activities. But he also loved sitting quietly, sometimes with a pen and paper, pondering new research ideas and life in this universe. He dreamed of going to the stars. Despite all his academic successes in high school and at university, and his various awards and honors throughout his career, he remained a humble man and ready to share his knowledge with others. In his own words: I am a simple man with simple tastes.
A simple memorial celebration will be held on Friday, March 18 from 4-7 p.m. at FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 6557 N. Clinton Street. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Carlos Pomalaza Ráez Memorial Scholarship, through the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, Purdue University Fort Wayne, 2101 East Coliseum Boulevard, Fort Wayne, IN 46805.
The family would like to thank his doctors and medical teams at IU Health Methodist Hospital who expertly and compassionately cared for him in his final days.
Carlos was a reserved kid and gifted with an outstanding intelligence that always put him at the top of every class. From an early age he was attracted by the wilderness, the cold, and all the books he could find. An avid reader, he was on many occasions a challenge for his teachers, who couldn’t compare him with anyone else. Carlos also enjoyed playing soccer and entertaining his brothers with his knowledge and his stories. He graduated from the Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería with 2 degrees, in electrical engineering and in mechanical engineering, and later worked at the Instituto Geofísica del Peru. He realized that he needed an extra challenge and obtained several scholarships from American universities. He decided to pursue his M.S.E.E. and Ph.D. at Purdue University at the age of 23.
Carlos was dedicated to and passionate about education, having taught and carried out research at the University of Limerick (Ireland), Clarkson University (New York), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (California), the Centre for Wireless Communications, University of Oulu (Finland) and Purdue University Fort Wayne (Indiana). For 32 years, first as Professor of Radio Frequency Communications, then Department Chair, and then Interim Dean, he energetically pursued his vision for the growth of the engineering programs at Purdue University Fort Wayne. He was instrumental in bringing the regional FIRST LEGO League championship to the university. Through teaching, mentoring, and advising, he touched the lives of his many students and colleagues.
Carlos had endless curiosity. Music and languages fascinated him. Coaching ‘football’ for Raoul and his teammates was a great joy. He immersed himself in other cultures, learning new customs and ways of viewing the world. Along with canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and cross-country skiing, he enjoyed many outdoor activities. But he also loved sitting quietly, sometimes with a pen and paper, pondering new research ideas and life in this universe. He dreamed of going to the stars. Despite all his academic successes in high school and at university, and his various awards and honors throughout his career, he remained a humble man and ready to share his knowledge with others. In his own words: I am a simple man with simple tastes.
A simple memorial celebration will be held on Friday, March 18 from 4-7 p.m. at FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 6557 N. Clinton Street. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Carlos Pomalaza Ráez Memorial Scholarship, through the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, Purdue University Fort Wayne, 2101 East Coliseum Boulevard, Fort Wayne, IN 46805.
The family would like to thank his doctors and medical teams at IU Health Methodist Hospital who expertly and compassionately cared for him in his final days.