Lasting Memories

John Ralston Schilling
April 10, 1943-Nov. 7, 2012
Denver, Colorado

John Ralston Schilling, 69, of Denver, Colorado, unexpectedly but peacefully passed away in his home on Wednesday, November 7, 2012.

JR, or Raly, was born April 10, 1943 in New York City. He graduated from Cate School in Santa Barbara, California, in 1961 and received his engineering degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston in 1965.

He was a member of the MIT Varsity Crew team, and was honored with being selected to the 1966 World Championship Crew team that competed on Lake Bled, Yugoslavia. JR also earned his MBA from the University of Kentucky, Louisville.

After graduating from MIT, JR began his career with GE Westinghouse. He was recruited by Bechtel Corporation, which moved him to the San Francisco Bay Area. JR ultimately took up residence in Woodside near his parents.

In 1980, JR founded Vortec, Inc., around his patented diverging vortex separator, designed to solve extraction issues in the geothermal energy space. To this day, JR held an active engineering license in the state of California.

JR was an avid outdoorsman. He loved fly fishing and the always accompanying fish stories. His favored trout streams included the McCloud River Club in California, the Rimarko Ranch in British Columbia, and most recently the La Garita Fishing Club in Colorado. JR also had a passion for duck hunting and spent early years teaching his children to shoot in Los Banos, California. Early on he was active with his young children and helped to coach AYSO soccer in Woodside.

JR moved to Colorado in 1997 to be closer to his family and to manage his second company, an accounting software firm. He loved the West and spent his vacation time in the Rockies and the Sierras in search of the perfect river. He remained an avid supporter of the educational institutions that helped shape him to be the outstanding gentleman and scholar that he was. JR loved to attend MIT Reunions that provided opportunities to spend time with his classmates and to row once more on the Charles.

JR is survived by his mother, F. Tracy Schilling, his sisters: Tracy P. Schilling (Morris), Jessie G. Schilling, and Sandra Santos (Schilling); and by his children: Morgan Schilling (Carolyn), Christian Schilling (Susan), Anni Schilling, and Kate Schilling along with his 6 grandchildren.

JR?s zest for challenging the status quo with hard charging intellect and his passion for conservative wit will be missed by his loving family and friends.

May he eternally rest in peace, On-wards and Upwards!

Please join Family & Friends in the Celebration of Life of John Ralston Schilling at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 9, 2013, at Independence Hall, 2955 Woodside Road, Woodside, California.

Please consider a charitable donation in honor of JR's grandson to raise awareness and support in the fight against Juvenile Diabetes: Christopher?s Foundation, P.O. Box 82, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067