Hans J.U. Thommen, 80, of Mattapoisett died April 15, 2007 at Sippican Healthcare Center after a long illness.
He was the husband of Barbara A. (Sanderson) Thommen.
Born in Ostermundigen, Bern, Switzerland, the son of the late Emil and Martha (Baechler) Thommen, he lived in Mattapoisett for most of his life.
Mr. Thommen was formerly employed as a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth from 1967 to 1991. Prior to that he was a research engineer at Oerlikon Engineering Company in Oerlikon, ZH from 1952 to 1955, research assistant at Brown University from 1955 to 1958, assistant professor at Brown University from 1958 to 1960, and design specialist, staff scientist and senior staff scientist at General Dynamics Convair, San Diego, CA from 1960 to 1967.
He was a member of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American Society for Engineering Education, the Utonia Fraternity and the Sigma Xi Fraternity.
Mr. Thommen served as a First Lieutenant of the artillery in the Swiss Federal Army.
He enjoyed painting, furniture making and reading.
Survivors include his wife; 2 daughters, Jean Thommen of Hollywood, FL and Julie Awwad of Scituate, RI; 6 grandchildren, a niece and 2 nephews.
He was the brother of the late Sylvia von Bidder.
Visiting hours Wednesday, April 18th from 4-7 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6) Mattapoisett. His Funeral Service and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Friends of the Mattapoisett Library, P.O. Box 1116, Mattapoisett, MA 02739.