In Memoriam: Jay Kumler
SPIE Fellow James Joseph (Jay) Kumler passed away on 10 February.
A leader and mentor in the optics and photonics industry, Kumler designed optical systems for United Technologies and Bell Laboratories prior to founding Coastal Optical Systems in 1991, which he led for ten years before the company was acquired by JENOPTIK. Kumler had been serving as president of JENOPTIK North America since 2021.
During his nearly 40 years in optics and photonics, Kumler published several technical papers, book chapters, and patents. He was a regular speaker at optics and photonics events and was passionate about advancing the industry. Kumler’s accomplishments included contributions to the Hubble Telescope, Perseverance Mars Rover, and the X Taara wireless internet terminal, which was named a Time Magazine “Best Invention of 2024.”
An SPIE Member for 24 years, Kumler served on the SPIE Board of Directors (2010-2012) and served as symposium chair at SPIE Optifab and SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing. Additionally, he was instrumental in the formulation and continued success of the SPIE Startup Challenge where he served as judge and mentor for participants along with having JENOPTIK serve as founding sponsor each year.
“Jay welcomed me almost immediately after joining SPIE as CEO and it was clear from that initial meeting that he cared deeply about the Society and the optics and photonics community,” said SPIE CEO Kent Rochford. “Jay’s decades-long contributions helped shape the SPIE we have today, and I and the staff are forever grateful for his service. The leadership he brought to the creation of the Startup Challenge is emblematic of his work to highlight innovation and opportunity within the Society.”
Kumler took mentorship seriously and took pride in giving people their first opportunities in the field of optics and photonics. Especially close to his heart was the Jenoptik-SPIE Photonics Technician Scholarship, supporting photonics-technician students in Florida.
“Jenoptik is pleased to partner with SPIE and expand our existing photonics-technician scholarship program,” said Kumler in a 2023 press release. “Working together with SPIE, we will double the number of students that we are supporting from two to four. The need is great and if the industry and SPIE join forces, we can continue to enable the development of future technicians that are essential in helping to create a better future for all through photonics.”
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in his honor to SPIE and the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network.
Read the full obituary here.
