Stephan Paul Velsko
Stephan Paul Velsko died Aug. 24, 2026. He was 71.
Velsko was born July 8, 1955 in Beacon, New York, to Paul and Theodora Velsko. He attended James V. Forrestal Elementary School, Rombout Middle School, and then Beacon High School, and graduated in 1973. At the University of Rochester (1973-1977) he obtained a double bachelor of arts degree in mathematics and chemistry and did undergraduate research with Prof. Mark Skeats, who encouraged him to attend graduate school in chemistry. The summer after college graduation, he did a Department of Energy internship at Argonne National Laboratory. In the fall of 1977, he started graduate school at the University of Chicago Department of Chemistry. He received his doctor of philosophy in 1981. His next chapter as a postdoctoral researcher was with Prof. Robin Hochstrasser at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied nonlinear relaxation of vibrational states in solids. In 1984, he joined the Lasers Directorate at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to search for new, nonlinear optical materials for high-power lasers. He went on to develop and patent a frequency agile optical parametric oscillator for remote sensing of molecules in the atmosphere. He tested that system at the Nevada Test Site on a ground-based and an airborne platform. After the anthrax attacks, he started to develop the Lab’s capabilities for Bioforensics, became an associate program leader in the Global Security Directorate, and explored the interplay of science, policy and legal issues for prosecuting potential bioweapons cases in the U.S. legal system. He published more than 100 scientific papers and book chapters. He retired in November 2017 but kept engaged by working at LLNL part-time.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Velsko of Livermore, daughters Irina Velsko of Leipzig, Germany and Anna Long (Paul) of Mission Viejo, California, and grandson Theodore Long; sister Nancy Schmidt of Arvada, Colorado; nieces Elizabeth Zito, Liz Schmidt (Brian Fiscella) and family; nephews Karl Schmidt (Suzette) and family, and Andrew Schmidt (Emily); as well as mother-in-law Shirley Molini, sisters-in-law Mary Kullman and family, Judith Meluni (John) and family; brothers-in-law Paul Molini Jr. (Carol R.) and family, and Richard Molini (Rose) and family. He was predeceased by his parents, Paul and Theodora Velsko, his sister Irene Zito and his father-in-law Paul Molini Sr.
On Thursday, Sept. 10, please join us at Callaghan Mortuary, 3833 East Avenue, Livermore, to remember him; viewing 11am-1pm, Memorial Service 1-2 pm, followed by burial at Roselawn Cemetery, 1240 N. Livermore Avenue, Livermore. We will conclude the day with a reception at Terra Mia Restaurant 3–6 p.m., 4040 East Avenue, Livermore. If you would like to join us at Terra Mia, please RSVP via email to velsko [at] comcast.net (velsko[at]comcast[dot]net) or text/call 925-698-2478 so we can get a count of expected visitors. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his honor to the American Association for the Advancement of Science https://www.aaas.org/support or the American Cancer Society https://donate.cancer.org/.
