Leonard Carmen Pugh Sr.

Leonard Carmen Pugh Sr., a Los Banos resident, died Sunday,
April 24, 2005, at the Los Banos Memorial Hospital from a short
battle with cancer. He was 74.
Leonard Carmen Pugh Sr., a Los Banos resident, died Sunday, April 24, 2005, at the Los Banos Memorial Hospital from a short battle with cancer. He was 74.

Mr. Pugh was born July 23, 1930 in Palestine, Arkansas at his grandmother’s home. After living in several of the southern states, the family settled in California in 1942.

As a teenager, he was a page for the very first United Nations Assembly when it convened in San Francisco, where he was living at the time.

He attended Fremont Union High School in Sunnyvale where he was active in sports and drama.

After graduating in 1948, he enlisted in the United States Navy. While on duty he was chosen to attend Annapolis Naval Academy.

After receiving his EE degree, he worked in San Jose, at General Electric in their Nuclear Power Industry from 1959 to 1987, as a reactor operator, trainer and human factors specialist.

He was given several special assignments and was able to work at the Garigiano Nuclear Power Plant in Italy, Dresden Power Plant in Morris, Ill. and the Nuclenor Plant in Spain.

A senior member of IEEE, Mr. Pugh authored numerous papers and received the Human Factors Division of the American Nuclear Society Award for “outstanding contribution to the development of human factors technology in the nuclear industry.”

His reputation gained him invitations as a keynote speaker and participant in world wide efforts to promote safety in the Nuclear Energy Business.

He traveled to Beijing, China, HSIN-Chu, Taiwan and was a proud participant of the Halden Project in Loen, Norway. After retirement, he spent several years as a consultant to the Laguna Verde Site in Vera Cruz, Mexico.

After he retired in 1987 he became a massage therapist, and was President of the Santa Clara Division of the California Massage Therapy Association.

An avid wood carver, he was a proud member of the San Jose Carver’s Guild.

He had several of his pieces displayed by the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Gilroy Arts and Culture Commission and several times played Santa Claus during the annual holiday parade.

He is survived by sons, Leonard Carmen Pugh Jr. of Los Banos, Kenneth Howard Pugh of Los Banos, Chris Pugh of Tacoma, Wash.; daughter, Trichelle Marie Pugh of Los Banos; sisters, Anne Tugwell of Santa Clara, Nancy Charlene Scott of Santa Cruz, Noma Daoust of Paso Robles; brother, Richard Pugh of Morro Bay; and grandchildren, Kenneth Pugh Jr.; Kaitlynn Marie Pugh; Max Leonard Pugh, Jake Grayson Pugh, Jack Carmen Pugh and Charles Earl Pugh.

Interment will be at 2pm Wednesday, May 4, 2005, at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, 32053 W. McCabe Road, Gustine, with military honors. Friends and family are invited.

Friends are invited to donate to The Boy Scouts of America in his name.

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