George Joseph Haltiner

November 26, 1918-January 21, 2013

Dr. George J Haltiner, former distinguished professor, chairman, and distinguished professor emeritus of the Dept of Meteorology at the US Naval Postgraduate School (US NPS) in Monterey, California passed away on January 21, 2013 of natural causes at the age of 94.  Throughout his 40-year career as an internationally acclaimed scholar and educator, Dr. Haltiner was a recognized leader in the revolution of the science of weather forecasting.  He helped pioneer methods to harness the emerging power of computers and incorporate remotely sensed data from satellites, planes, ships and other platforms, transforming weather prediction from an empirical craft to a modern science.  He published three seminal textbooks that were used by an entire generation of meteorology students, and helped guide the Meteorology Department at the US Naval Postgraduate School into one of the premier research programs in the world.  His enthusiasm for science combined with his love of teaching inspired numerous students, faculty and colleagues throughout the world.  Along with his wife Mary, he was a Monterey resident since 1948.

Dr Haltiner was born on November 26, 1918 in St Paul, Minnesota to Conrad and Elizabeth Haltiner, impoverished immigrants to the United States from Switzerland and Austria.  One of 10 children, he grew up in difficult times, with his mother succumbing to cancer when he was six, requiring his older siblings to drop out of school and support the family, allowing him and younger siblings to complete their education.  This self-sacrifice, hard work, frugality and especially family loyalty made a deep and lasting impression that guided him throughout his life.

During his high school years, he supported himself by working on a milk delivery truck, and later, as a cook on the Great Northern Railroad.  He won a scholarship to St Thomas College in Mathematics, graduating summa cum laude in 1940 and began a PhD program in mathematics at the University of Wisconsin.  Throughout his youth and college years, he was an avid ski jumper, competing widely throughout the Midwest, reaching the highest national ranking (“A” level) in 1942, with aspirations of competing in the Olympics. 

However, his schooling and athletics were interrupted by the onset of World War II and he joined the United States Navy as an officer and member of the Naval Weather Service in 1942.  At that time, weather prediction remained largely an empirical process, relying on experience and simple instrumentation that had evolved over centuries.  His education in physics and mathematics was ideal for the rapid evolution of modern weather forecasting during this period.  He was initially stationed in Pearl Harbor, and moved across the Pacific Ocean, forecasting weather and ocean conditions for US forces engaged in the battles for the Pacific Islands.  During this period, he was also assigned to the European front, advising on new developments in the weather and ocean wave forecasting that were a key factor in the timing and success of the Normandy invasion.  At the conclusion of World War II, he withdrew from active duty, but remained in the reserves, retiring with the rank of Captain USN in 1972. 

In 1946, he accepted a faculty position at the US Naval Postgraduate School in Annapolis, Maryland.  On a train trip to Annapolis, he met the love of his life, Mary Wahl.  When they disembarked from the train, he gallantly offered to carry her suitcase, having already determined that this was the woman he would marry.  Following a romantic courtship in Washington DC, they wed in June, 1947.  In 1948, he received his PhD in Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin.  That same year, the Navy relocated the Meteorology/Oceanography Department to a new site that had been constructed in the former Del Monte Hotel in Monterey, with the remaining departments following in 1951.   He served as a professor of meteorology from 1946 to1964 and as Department Chairman from 1964 until his retirement in 1982.  He was awarded the title of “Distinguished Professor” in 1962, and Distinguished Professor Emeritus at his retirement.  During this period he was recognized as one of the world’s foremost researchers in the emerging field of Numerical Weather Prediction, as weather forecasting advanced from approximate short-range forecasts to allow increasingly detailed and accurate prediction up to several weeks into the future.  Building on this work, the development of global climatic circulation models has allowed the understanding of potential longer term climate changes in response to human activities. Throughout this period, he was also invited to Washington DC, advising the Navy leadership on the crucial role of the Postgraduate School in maintaining technological excellence in support of naval operations around the world.

At the time of his retirement in 1982, he was personally presented with the Navy’s Distinguished Civilian Service Award by the Secretary of the Navy, the highest honor presented to a non-military member for his contributions to Navy operations.  He also received the Cleveland Abby Award from the American Meteorological Society for exemplary teaching skills and contributions to the advancement of numerical weather prediction. The USNPGS established a research chair position in his name, bringing renowned scholars to the school each year to contribute to the development of Weather Forecasting.  In his honor, the school dedicated the George Haltiner Laboratory for Weather Analysis and Prediction in 2009.

He commented throughout his life about how fortunate he was to spend his career on the spectacular Monterey Peninsula.  He was an avid and accomplished golfer and a founding member (1966) of the Spyglass Hill Golf Course.  He played the game avidly for sixty-six years, and always appreciated the combination of skill, competition, natural beauty and camaraderie shared with his many golfing friends.

He was a devout Catholic and member of the San Carlos Cathedral and US NPS chapel.  Deeply moved by the beauty, complexity and symmetry he saw in the universe around him, he was convinced that such a masterpiece must have a Creator.

He is survived by his beloved spouse of more than 65 years, Mary Wahl Haltiner, and his younger sister, Beth Haltiner of Mankato, Minnesota.  He and Mary were blessed with five children:  Mary Himple (Walter), Jeffrey (Kim Curtice) Haltiner, Kathleen Deck (Peter), Jean Isaacs (Paul), and Michele Jones (Kevin).  He was deeply loved and respected by 14 grandchildren:  Joseph and Julie (deceased) Himple, Caitlin and Seth Haltiner, Christian, Jonathan, Anna and Katherine Deck, Michael, Daniel and Laura Isaacs, and Stephanie, Natalie and Katharine Jones.

A memorial Mass and reception to celebrate his life will be held at the San Carlos Cathedral on Monday, March 11, 2013 at 10AM.  Please wear bright colors- George always liked to celebrate.

The family would like to thank the staff of Ave Maria Convalescent Hospital for their loving and devoted care, and the VNA Hospice program for their service and support.

Memorial donations may be made to the California State Parks Foundation, the St Vincent de Paul Society, or a charity of choice.