South Pasadena High School
Alumni Association - 1907-2025
Ralph Shirley
| Class of | 1968 |
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| Currently residing In | Moorpark, CA USA |
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| Spouse/Partner | Lois |
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| Children, Grandchildren | Brian '77, Joellen '79, Bethany '88, Michael '91, grandson Joe '07, granddaughter Olivia '13, grand More… |
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| Occupation Title | Engineer |
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Copa Photo
Ralph's Latest Interactions
Mr. Gruen certainly captured my attention in the sciences. I call the periodic table of the elements, "God's love letter to me." It's order with two electrons in the first orbit, 8 electrons in the second and third orbits, and 18 in the forth and fifth, etc. The most active elements to the far left and far right, except the absolute stable inert ones to the last spot on the right. Chemistry explains how that works, but why 2, 8, 8, 18, 18. All to show the great order in the universe displayed by God saying, "See Ralph, my hand is on it all, right down to the electrons, protons and neutrons." Mr. Gruen certainly understood it.
As an engineer, I was always struck by the balance of the chemical composition that is here on earth that allowed life to exist. Just the right amount of each element to allow combinations that give us building blocks. That balance and variety allows alloys of iron, carbon, molybdenum, manganese, chrome, and various others that creates steels that are much harder and tougher than their individual parts. That balance is found in soil that allows carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and several other micro nutrients to combine and yield crops in abundance. That same balance is not found on Mars or Venus.
Going further into the biology world those same elements combine to make amino acids and proteins, and the DNA making a blueprint for life. The DNA is as different from the product as the paper drawing is from the parts turned out on machine tools. Just chance encounters with random cosmic rays, I don't think so.
The chemistry that keeps the sun burning, keeps the earth balanced in climate compatible with life. It is all marvelous. Thanks Mr. Gruen for sharing that spirit of discovery with us.
