Dr. James D. Cramer

Dr. James D. Cramer, age 80, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away December 28, 2017. Born in Canton, OH on August 4, 1937 to Vera (Lindower) Cramer and Dale Cramer, Jim later grew up in central California and then resided in Albuquerque, NM and Durango, CO for the rest of his life. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Geraldine (Geri) Cramer; and his children, their spouses, and their children: Karen (Cramer) Bovee, Kevin Bovee, Eric Cramer, Denise Cramer, Jessica Bovee, Michael Bovee, Taylor Cramer and Ryan Cramer; his brother, Bob Cramer and his family; and his sister, Linda Wysong and her family.

Jim received his BA and his MS is physics from Fresno State College and University of Oregon respectively, and earned his PhD in physics from the University of New Mexico. He had over 40 years of professional experience as a scientist and businessman. As a physicist and former member of the technical staff at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Jim performed both theoretical and experimental research in the fields of nuclear fission and neutron physics.

From 1970 to 1980, Jim was employed with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) where he served as a group vice president, and a director of the corporation. He built and managed their nuclear-weapon effects programs and established and managed the SAIC office in Albuquerque.

In 1980, Jim left SAIC to found Science & Engineering Associates, Inc. (SEA), a New Mexico corporation. SEA, an employee-owned technology company, provided services and products in advanced sensor development, environmental instruments, lasers, spectral imaging, medical instruments, security, and system engineering analysis and design. SEA contracted with the Department of Energy national labs, agencies of the Department of Defense, and many other government and commercial entities. He managed SEA’s growth to more than 500 employees with offices in several major U.S. cities.

Jim served as a board member on the Rio Grande Technology Foundation, a private technology commercialization consortium. He was also appointed to and served for four years on the New Mexico Science and Technology Commercialization Commission. For six years, Jim served on the board of the Albuquerque Museum Foundation—two of those years serving as the Foundation’s President. Jim was also a member of the Founding Board of Explora, the children’s science and technology learning center in Albuquerque, as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the Catholic Foundation. He was also an active member of the Albuquerque Community Foundation.

In 2004, SEA was sold to a private equity capital firm and Jim retired. He directed his energies to other passions that included drawing and painting, fly fishing, travel, philanthropy, and his family.

A Memorial Mass will be held for Jim on Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Risen Savior Catholic Community, 7701 Wyoming Blvd. NE. Interment will be held directly after at Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, followed by a reception at the Albuquerque Country Club. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Explora at http://www.explora.us/en/join-give/give-to-explora/ or your favorite charity.