Wilhelm Behrens

H. Wilhelm Behrens died peacefully at his home in Rancho Palos Verdes on February 3, 2018 after a valiant battle with Parkinson’s and dementia. Will was born 82 years ago in Zeven, Germany. Growing up he was passionate about his studies and soccer. His thirst for knowledge enabled him to excel in the German educational system, culminating in a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Technical University of Munich in 1960. While studying for a year at Belgium’s Von Karman Institute of Fluid Dynamics, he was urged by one of his professors to attend the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. After earning a PhD in Aeronautics from Caltech in 1966, he was appointed an adjunct professor. He joined TRW in 1973 as a Research Fellow. A few years later he was promoted to managing the Fluid and Thermophysics Department. In 1991 he was named a Technical Fellow of the Space and Defense Sector at TRW. He received numerous professional awards and was named a Fellow of the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) in 2007. During the course of his career he was granted 10 U.S. Patents. In addition to his intellectual pursuits, Will loved being with his family and friends. He was a tennis enthusiast who was adored by everyone in the tennis community. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sondra, his daughter, Christine Almeida, his son, Bill Behrens, and his three grandchildren Cole Behrens, Sophia Almeida, Piper Behrens and his older brother Helmut. The funeral will be held at Ascension Lutheran Church on Friday, February 23, 2018, at 11:00 am, 26231 Silver Spur Road, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to GALCIT (Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories at Caltech), 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125 or to Ascension Lutheran Church (In memory of Will Behrens).