James Vasconcellos:
CLASS OF 1954
Bellarmine College Preparatory SchoolClass of 1954
San jose, CA
California Polytechnic State UniversityClass of 1959
San luis obispo, CA
Santa Clara University - EngineeringClass of 1959
Santa clara, CA
James's Story
Life
College
At Santa Clara Univ '54-'55, Mechanical Engineering. At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo '55-'59, graduated with a BSME. Then into the US Army for my ROTC commitment.
Workplace
Off to Nike Missile training at Ft. Bliss, El Paso Tx 11/59-2/60. Back to the SF Bay Area to get married 2/60, then to Lumberton, NJ for 2 yrs on a Nike site. Out of active duty in 4/62, returned to CA to start my job search in aerospace.
Joined United Technolgies, Sunnyvale, CA 5/62, testing solid rocket systems and components in the early space race days, then joined the Project Management team, about 5 yrs in each area. Lots of new technology. Two of "my" rocket items are on display at the Smithsonian Aerospace Museum.
When Aerospace slowed down in the early '70s, joined GE-Nuclear Energy-San Jose, CA, Intl Projects 7/72. Five weeks later off to Mexico City to launch its first nuclear power plant program. Promoted to Intl Marketing early '74, marketing nuclear technology to Thailand, Pakistan, Egypt (3 trips). When the marketing business slowed, took a Principle Engr position in Madrid Spain, from 10/76-7/83. Lots of family travel/vacations around Europe, Asia.
Back to San Jose, switched to GE-Calma 8/83, in the CAE/CAD/CAM computer industry. Took over the Project Mgmt/Contract Mgmt operations in early 85 when new VP noted the Intl background. 30 days later I was off to Singapore to take over the Far East Sales/Service with an area covering from mainland China-India-Australia. Offices in 5 countries with over 40 staff, traveling over 60% of my time out of Singapore. Spent most of my time in the Peoples Republic of China. Very successful sales, but my expanding sales could not cover lost US/Europe sales. 5yr assignment cut short to <2yrs, back to CA. Managed a $7M install project in Denver, then laid off in '88 due to company downsizing. Company sold off by GE shortly after. So goes Hi-Tech reward/risk.
Joined a Hi-Tech vision and laser scanning automation company in Alameda, CA 10/88. Again, lots of new, cutting edge technologies in vision based automation for manufacturing and for document archiving. Parent company took the archiving business, would not release the automation technologies for a separate start-up. Laid off again in '91.
Established a joint venture is St. Petersburg, Russia in late '91, officially authorized by their govt, for intl sales of emergency power generation sy...Expand for more
stems/switchgear, but business evaporated.
Rejoined GE Nuclear for upgrading operating plants, initially on a project in IL requiring weekly trips there. Then right back on the plane for Int'l marketing. After 8yrs, received an early retirement, another downsizing.
Two weeks later, joined another Hi-Tech start-up in laser scanning/3D image capture as input to 3D engineering software. After 2 yrs and the company moved into distributor sales, I retired for good to chase grandkkids.
Kids: 1st son, Jim Jr., a computer systems manager, completed tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Lt COl in the USAF Reserves, home 2/10, and retired fm the AF. He has a daughter and son in Salinas CA. Our 2nd son, Mark, lives in Las Cruces NM, produces and directs films. They have a daughter and son. Our daughter, Lisa, is an Art Director for films/TV in LA/Hollywood, was in HI for shooting Pirates of the Caribbean 4 with Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, premiered 5/20/11. She worked for Oliver Stone on "Savages", released ~7/6/12. She left for Panama 8/13 for 4 months for the movie "Hands of Stone" abt the boxer, Roberto Duran, Robert de Nero is the Duran coach. She has been working movie projects in Baton Rouge and New Orleans for the past 4 months.
Our big objectives, travel to visit friends n relatives, and kids n grandkids. We lived in Pt Richmond CA overlooking SF Bay. What a view. Took a 4-wk driving trip to Banff Canada, visiting friends n relatives 4-5/10, then on to HI 6-7/10 to visit Lisa as she finished "Pirates", sons joined us there also, celebrated our 50th anniv with them there also. And, visited relatives there. So, we keep moving on and on. Our business and vacation travels have taken us to over 40 countries around this exciting world.
My beautiful, supportive wife was diagnosed in 4/08 with a rare, progressive, neuro-degenerative disease for which there is no cure. She lost her ability to stand/walk 11/10, but we kept her going by wheelchair and a mobility van, some 3000 miles in 1 yr visiting friends n relatives, with the help of a live-in caregiver. I lost my wonderful wife of 52+yrs 4/24/12. I miss her so much. I moved to Las Cruces, NM 7/12/13 to be near the younger grandkids. Still unpacking, and still considering trips n travels to visit long time friends and relatives scattered around the country/world. The trips will be lonelier, but she is so with me.
Last update 8/9/15.
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