February 18, 1928 — December 12, 2014
In Palo Alto, Calif. at age 86 after a short, catastrophic illness. Beloved husband of Dr. Laenu Adelilah Greenberg Karp for 57 years until her death in 2012; loving father of Rabbi R. Reuel Karpov, Ph.D. and Yonah Karp (Harold Bobroff); adoring grandfather of Hannah Ruth Karp Bobroff, Abraham Raphael Karp Bobroff, and Nora Rayna Karp Bobroff; dear brother of the late Mayor David Solomon Karp, of San Leandro, Calif.
Ira Karp was originally from Bronx, N.Y. He was a lifelong learner, first at the elite Townsend Harris prep school in New York, eventually studying at Cal Berkeley and running track, and later earning a Ph.D. in physics at the University of Washington, as well as an additional M.S.E.E. from Purdue University a decade later. His career alternated periods of university professorships, notably at Tuskegee Institute and Virginia Commonwealth University, and industry work in physics, mathematics and computer science, including Boeing Aerospace, AFRRI, and GTE. In later life, Ira returned to his earlier love of running, becoming a life-extension advocate and guru. At 85, he won all three state-wide running competitions in California’s Senior Games in Pasadena, and an article featuring his success was in the San Jose Mercury News. He and Laenu were members of Kol Emeth in Palo Alto, and were regular daily minyan participants for many years.
Ira ran his final race November 16, less than a month before he died.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, December 17, 2014, at Eden Memorial Park, Mission Hills, Calif. He is buried next to his beloved Laenu, and near his in-laws, Esther Bernice Greenberg and Shuey Isadore Greenberg.
Memorial donations to Congregation Kol Emeth, Palo Alto, Calif. preferred. Inquiries and memories to yonahkarp@gmail.com.