Louis “Lenny” Norman Rib, Nachum Leib ben Yosef v’Channah, 85, died Dec. 18. Lenny grew up in the Bronx, N.Y., and was part of the Kingsmen during high school. He attended New York University, achieving a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a master’s in meteorology, later completing advanced certification through General Electric in nuclear engineering. He always enjoyed science fiction and was fascinated by science and how it could improve the future.
He served in the Air Force during the Korean conflict as an Arctic meteorologist in Limestone, Maine, then as a nuclear engineer in Schenectady, N.Y. for General Electric. He then moved to work for the Atomic Energy Commission, followed by a job at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in the Washington, D.C., area as a nuclear reactor licenser. He made significant contributions to issues of nuclear reactor safety by combining his skills meteorology and nuclear engineering to recognize the need for safety upgrades against torda force winds and earthquake forces.
He was also an advocate for the splitting of the Atomic Energy Commission into the Energy Research and Development Administration and the NRC. After retiring from the government, he was a consultant to the NRC and then to a Canadian reactor company. In Maryland, he participated in Toastmasters, was briefly active and president of a B’nai B’rith group, and head of ushers at Congregation Beth El in Bethesda.
After his third retirement, he and his wife, Helen moved to Tuscon, Ariz., in 2005. He was very enthusiastic about sporting events, whether it be in Maryland, Arizona or at his grandson’s basketball games. His self-taught hobby after retirement was personal investment — to help his family and to improve energy and the world’s environment. He had a gentle soul and caring personality. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren’s accomplishments, and was a thankful patriarch.
Lenny is survived by Helen, his childhood girlfriend and wife of 63 years, four children; Judith (Doron) Holzer of Memphis, Tenn., Evelyn (Tom) Gosnell of Tucson, David (Sharon) Rib of Apple Valley, Calif., and Heidi (Wayne) Brent of Tuscon; his grandchildren Akiva (Rena) Holzer and great-granddaughter Ruth, Shoshanna Holzer of Boston, Mass., Joseph Rib of Seattle, Wash., Daniel (Toni) Rib of Denver, Colo., Emily (Max) Ellentuck and great-grandchildren Hannah and Benjamin; Larry Brent, all of Tuscon; and Joshua (Lianna) Brent of San Diego, Calif. He’s preceded in death by granddaughter Casey Gosnell.
Rabbi Robert Eisen officiated graveside services Dec. 19 at the Congregation Anshei Israel section of Evergreen Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Congregation Anshei Israel, the American Diabetes Association or the charity of your choice.
