Kalejs, Juris P. Juris Paul Kalejs, PhD of Wellesley, MA died on January 6, 2015, at home surrounded by his family. He was born in Riga, Latvia on August 4, 1942, the only child of professional musicians, violinist Janis and pianist Felicita Kalejs. In 1944, Juris and 12 family members departed on the last Red Cross train leaving Riga before the Red Army's occupation. The Kalejs family eventually settled in Wolfville, Nova Scotia in 1949.
On the path to becoming a dedicated scientist, Juris earned a BS from Acadia University, Canada; MS in mechanical engineering from UMn; PhD in physics from Brown University; and postdoctoral work at Universities of Oxford, England and Toronto, Canada. Dr. Kalejs was a pioneer in solar energy. Focusing on crystal growth for photovoltaic panels, he was the author of over 100 scientific articles, the holder of several patents, and recognized as an international industry leader. He was a founder of two solar integration companies.
Juris was also a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He loved to spend time with and actively participated in the life of each family member. Mountain hiking was a continued interest of his, culminating in a Mt. Whitney climb with dear friends and family. Time spent in nature was his segue into a spiritual path that brought balance and sharpened his intuition. Juris is survived by his best friend and beloved wife of 48 years, Elizabeth. He was the father of Emily (Anwar Kevin) of Arlington MA, Eleanor of Longmont CO, and Alex (Heidi) of Evergreen CO. He was the grandfather of Maya, Alex and Calvin Qazilbash; Kathryn and Sienna Ryman; and Felicita and Fiona Kalejs. He was the brother-in-law of Eleanor and Ned Chase and leaves beloved nieces and nephews.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, January 17th, 2015, at 2 pm at Christ Church United Methodist, 2 Brook Street, Wellesley, MA, with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory may be made to American Liver Foundation; Vernon Cancer Center at Newton-Wellesley Hospital; or Christ Church United Methodist Wellesley. The internment will take place at a later date in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada.