Kevin Granata, who began his professional career at
the Johns Hopkins Applied
Physics Laboratory, was among those killed in the
Virginia Tech shootings on April 16. A professor of
engineering science and mechanics, he was considered one of
the nation's top researchers working on movement dynamics
in cerebral palsy. He was 45.
Granata joined the Lab in 1986 and worked on
low-frequency performance issues for long towed arrays in
the former Submarine Technology Department (now the
National Security Technology Department). His initial work
helped to form the justification for the series of Doppler
signal suppression experiments that were conducted by APL
in 1990 and 1991. He was very interested in biomechanics
and left the Lab in 1989 to obtain a PhD in biomechanics
from Ohio State.
"He was a bright young guy who came here from school,
had a lot of energy and was very capable," Joseph S.
Lombardo, his APL supervisor and now director of the Lab's
Center of Excellence in Public Health and Informatics, told
The Baltimore Sun. "Kevin had a very good scientific
background and was able to do a substantial level of
analysis."
Granata, who had received his bachelor's degree in
engineering physics and electrical engineering from Ohio
State and master's in physics from Purdue, went on to an
esteemed career in teaching and research, first at the
University of Virginia and then at Virginia Tech. He
lectured nationally and internationally and had numerous
publications and research grants.
A runner and cyclist, he enjoyed participating in
biathlons and triathlons. He also loved reading and
coaching his sons' lacrosse teams.
Survivors include his wife, Linda; two sons, Alex and
Eric; a daughter, Ellen; and his parents, Mildred and
Joseph Granata.
Memorials can be made to the Kevin P. Granata Memorial
Trust, 1872 Pratt Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24068.
GO TO