Ralph Ramon Landry, 70, of Rockville

»Information from the Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Homes website.

Ralph Ramon Landry, 70, of Rockville died Sept. 21, 2015. Dr. Landry was a hands-on family man with various interests and talents. As his daughters grew up, he was heavily involved in their sports and lives. From helping with homework, to timekeeping and refereeing their swim meets, to watching and learning about soccer, he was a constant presence in their daily lives. Ralph and his wife Kathy were passionate about travel and exploring new places.

Outside of his family, he was an avid runner, competing in dozens of races ranging from 5Ks to marathons. Up until his passing, he walked 5 miles a day, always striving to improve his time and health. He was dive master certified, and was passionate about skiing, photography and organ building. He also enjoyed volunteering as a beta tester and tech guru in Apple’s user support group.

He earned a PhD in Nuclear Engineering with a dissertation on nucleate boiling heat transfer. After working for Bechtel Power Corporation for two years, he began to work for the Atomic Energy Commission in the office of technical review. When the AEC was split, Ralph stayed with the regulation function and the NRC office of regulation. After four years in regulation, he moved to the office of research to ultimately manage the LOFT, Semiscale, and RELAP5 projects. In 1984, he took an appointment at the Nuclear Energy Agency in Paris, France, coordinating the work on the LOFT project and Halden reactor project in Norway. Upon return to the NRC in 1986, he became project
manager for the liquid metal reactor work involving the PRISM and SAFR designs. When the TMI-2 Vessel Investigation Program manager retired, Dr. Landry assumed responsibility and directed the program through the sampling and initial examination period. Before retiring in 2013, he worked in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation with responsibility for reactor physics, fuel performance, heat transfer, accident analysis code review, and confirmatory accident analysis activities.

He is survived by his wife Kathy, sister Kim, daughters Karin and Kristin, sons-in-law Terry and Todd, and grandchildren Emma, Cooper, Addison and Jameson.

Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Home, 7557 Wisconsin Ave. in Bethesda. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 11200 Old Georgetown Road in N. Bethesda.

The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in his name to Lutheran World Relief or to the Endowment Fund of Trinity Lutheran Church.