SAN FRANCISCO, CA, September 07, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Helen Elizabeth Voegele Gourley with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Helen celebrates many years' experience in her professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership, and the credentials and successes she has accrued in her field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current overall value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Helen Elizabeth Voegele was born in Rochester, New York on April 22, 1931. Her father, Karl Friedrich Immanuel Voegele, and mother, Emma Kraemer Voegele, were immigrants from Germany. Helen attended John Marshall High school in Rochester where her classmates knew her as the girl who wrote poetry. Helen excelled in her studies, while being physically challenged. Helen suffered from Hashimoto's disease, which is an autoimmune disorder attacking the thyroid gland. One of the symptoms of this disease is fatigue and periods of extreme fatigue. This condition prevented her from performing well in sports. She said that in gym class, she was always the last one around the track. Considering the disease, Helen's lifetime achievements were even more remarkable. Helen graduated Valedictorian of her high school class in 1949 and won several college scholarships. She accepted scholarships to the University of Rochester studying physics at the School of Arts and Science plus music at the Eastman School of Music. At the University of Rochester she met her physics laboratory partner, Dr. Evelyn Sokolowski, a student from Sweden. They became lifelong friends, both personal and professional, and continued correspondence throughout their lives. Helen graduated with honors and a Bachelor of Science in Physics in 1953.
Helen's working career began as a physicist in the Radiation Research Department at the University of California Medical Center from 1953 to 1955. She, finding this job rather boring, took night classes in electrical engineering and electronic systems design. This enabled her to take a position as project engineer at Beckman Instruments in 1955. On October 13, 1957 Helen gave birth to her daughter, Rebecca. She continued work at Beckman Instruments until 1960. Following this appointment, Helen excelled as a senior scientist at Nuclear Research Instruments in Berkeley from 1960 to 1965, during which time she designed the optical parts of image measuring systems utilized by the military for analyzing photographic surveillance photos. In addition, she enrolled in numerous specialized courses at UC Berkeley, learning a range of technical subjects including lens design.
Helen then served as a Program Manager at Quantic Industries, an aerospace company responsible for creating navigation devices for satellites. She assisted with the optical design of their products, tested systems, and worked closely with General Electric Space Systems, NASA and Lockheed Martin the prime builder of spacecraft and systems on testing and evaluation before and during launches. Helen met her future husband, Darrell while both worked at Quantic Industries. She left Quantic Industries in 1971 and began her career as a consultant in physics, optics and electro-optics. Helen and Darrell were married on April 18, 1973.
Helen worked for decades as a consultant using the name of System Sciences Group which she founded as a company in 1991. Helen chose the name System Sciences Group because she believed people with many talents were representative of a group. This was certainly true for her. System Sciences Group (SSG) worked on special-purpose design and research for mainly classified or confidential projects. Helen's SSG website is located at www.ssglight.com. SSG was a consultant in physics and optics for such companies as Xerox, ILC Corporation, Applied Materials, and numerous others. While at ILC, Helen was a significant designer of the lighting for the space shuttle cargo bays beginning with the Columbia. Additionally, Helen also designed lighting for the popular 1983 film, "War Games". She collaborated with a colleague, Dr. Darrell Mathis, on writing software for ray tracing, and designing energy-efficient optical systems.
It was in 1986, at the age of 55, that an observant physician diagnosed Helen's suffering from Hashimoto's disease. The doctor prescribed medicine, which was reasonably effective in treating this disease. However, from that time until her death, she still became easily fatigued. The medicine did prevent periods of extreme fatigue. Considering Helen's medical condition, her lifetime achievements are even more remarkable.
Outside of her primary endeavors, Helen also served as a mentor to many people (with special focus on women), for whom she instilled great passion in the sciences. For several years she taught a night course for adult students in electro-optics at Foothill College. In addition, Helen taught a course in project management at Varian Associates. She held seminars for "Expanding Your Horizons", a conference for girls from sixth to eighth grade. Helen taught them about career opportunities in math and science. She presented at laser workshops for high school girls for decades, and was active as the Director of a national advisory group for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (located within Rochester Institute of Technology). In addition, Helen contributed to the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and was the President of the Optical Society of Northern California from 1989 to 1990. A lifelong lover of music, she learned to play the harp at 60 years old. Helen played the instrument in churches, stage plays, and annually played duets with her harp partner, Anita Provost, for the Archdiocesan of the San Francisco Council of Catholic Women at the Olympic Country Club.
As a testament to her accomplishments, Helen earned a Bausch & Lomb Science Award and Scholarship while in high school, a President's Award by the International Society for Optical Engineering in 1964, and was later honored as Member of the Year by the American Harp Society in 2007. An affiliate of many groups, she was also a proud member of the National Speakers Bureau, American Physical Society, Optical Society of Northern California, Optical Society of America, International Society for Optical Engineering, and a San Francisco Emergency Response Team. As a lover of gardening, and a grower of orchids, she also belonged to the San Francisco Orchid Society.
Helen Elizabeth Voegele Gourley, the wife of Darrell for more than 47 years, mother to Rebecca, and a "Second Mother" to Brandon, passed away on March 17, 2021.
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