George "Jay" A. Keyworth II

GEORGE A “JAY” KEYWORTH, II (Nov. 30, 1939- Aug. 23, 2017) George A. “Jay” Keyworth, II died on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 in Carmel, California. He was 77. From May 1981 to January 1986, Jay served as Science Advisor to President Reagan and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. As the senior technical member of the President's staff, he led the Administration's efforts to capitalize on U.S. science and technology to strengthen industrial competitiveness, and was instrumental in establishing strong budgetary priorities for university basic research, in strengthening university engineering programs, and in stimulating more productive industrial participation in university research and education. In 1984 he was a member of the President's Commission on Industrial Competitiveness. He played key roles in the modernization of strategic military forces and in President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative. He was also deeply involved in Administration initiatives to use science and technology better to support U.S. foreign policy interests, especially with the People's Republic of China. Prior to his White House service, Jay was Director of the Physics Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory, which he joined in 1968. As Director of the Physics Division he led the Laboratory's programs in experimental physics, condensed matter research, astrophysics and space science, and laser fusion. He also oversaw Los Alamos' diagnostic program of underground nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site, as well as programs for satellite-based verification of compliance with nuclear test treaties. As a research scientist Jay’s contributions included pioneering work in high-resolution spectroscopy. As a formulator of policy, he has had widespread interactions with science and defense policy makers in many other countries, including NATO members, France, Japan, Israel, India, and The People's Republic of China. He was one of the first to recognize the importance of the digital revolution, and was a leading advocate for market-oriented policies to promote development of the Internet. He served on the boards of directors of major high tech companies, including General Atomics and Hewlett-Packard, and several non-profit organizations, including The Progress and Freedom Foundation (which he co-founded in 1993) and the Santa Fe Institute. Jay was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the middle child of five of Robert Allen and Leontine Briggs Keyworth of Gardner, Massachusetts. After graduating from Deerfield Academy, he received his B.S. in Physics from Yale University in 1963 and a Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics in 1968 from Duke University, where he conducted pioneering research in isospin conservation in nuclear reactions. Jay is survived by his loving wife of 12 years, Marion, (Carmel and Piedmont CA) who has been at his side throughout his illness. He is also survived by his son, George Keyworth (Tiffany) and a grandson James Keyworth (Saskatoon, SK), his daughter, Deirdre, grandchildren Robin, Justin and Samantha Hernandez (MD). He has been a devoted parent to Marion's sons, Doug Schwartz, (Jenny) Bryan Schwartz (Denise) and Mike Schwartz (Kathleen) and to her daughter-in-law Rebecca Bergstrom, her two children, Greta (NY) and Jeffrey (DC). He also leaves grandchildren Thayer, Wilson and Maggie Schwartz (CT), Madison and Alex Schwartz (CO), and Elias, Miranda and Owen Schwartz (CA). He often said that he didn't realize when he married Marion that he was marrying into such a special family. He is also survived by his sister, Linda Davis (Bill) and his brother, Rick Keyworth (NC). His sister Patsy and brother Robert predeceased him. His sister in law, Kathy Keyworth, and brother in law, Ben Davis, live in MA. Jay's late wife, Polly Keyworth, whom he devotedly cared for, died in 2004. In lieu of flowers, contributions are requested to All Saints Episcopal Church on Dolores St in Carmel or to Judicialwatch.org Service Information