Since the age of eight Jay Schlag wanted to be an electrical engineer. He became that and more.
A few years after receiving his bachelor’s degree in science and electrical engineering from Duke University in 1960 he began his career working at the electronic pioneer corporation Philco. Fascinated by technology, in 1967 Schlag was appointed to the Georgia Tech electrical and computer engineering faculty and was promoted to professor in 1979.
“He loved teaching other people; from grandchild to graduate student,” said his wife, Katharine Leonard Schlag. And, “He was generous to a fault. He would give you the shirt off his back.”
While at Georgia Tech he taught and did research in computer applications, computer-aided design, and neural networks. He retired in 2004 after 37 years of service, but continued to work part-time with the school until 2008.
Jay Schlag died Sept. 11 at his home in Marietta from kidney failure. He was 76. A memorial service will be held Sept. 25 at 11 a.m. at the Academy of Medicine, 875 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta. SoutherCare Cremation & Funeral Society is in charge of arrangements.
His passion for engineering stemmed from building different projects out of cardboard boxes his mother would give him when he was a boy.“He always figured out clever ways to do certain things,” said Katharine Schlag of her husband.
The couple met while at Duke University and had four children.
Schlag constructed a computer and placed it in the wall above his daughter’s crib to entertain her while she fell asleep.
When he wasn’t building computers he was in the family garage woodworking. He built rocking chairs, wagons, chests of drawers and more for his friends and family.
One time when a friend searched for a farm table, Schlag built one and surprised the family with it.
He even traveled to Washington, D.C. to oversee renovations on his sister-in-law Vera Schneider’s home. Schneider also recalled a time when Schlag helped her with a science project she had in junior high school. With his help, she said, she had an amazing project.
“He didn’t have to do any of that, he did it just because he could, he was just that kind of guy,” said Schneider.
In addition to his wife, Jay Schlag is survived by his four daughters: Elizabeth Stuff, Leslie Schlag, Diana Winter and Cynthia Morneweck; and eight grandchildren.
About the Author
