Paul David Reisdorf

Paul David Reisdorf

Paul David Reisdorf of Tracy died Jan. 14, after a lengthy battle with brain cancer. He was 35.

Reisdorf was born in Aurora, Colorado, and moved to Mission Viejo, California in 1987. He graduated in 2002 from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a degree in computer engineering. He worked as a computer scientist for the U.S. Navy in the SPAWAR Division until 2007 when he was hired at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

While Reisdorf was successful in his endeavors as a computer scientist, his main focus was always on his family. He was an exceptional father and devoted husband. His immediate and extended family could always count on his warm heart and contagious laugh. He also was an avid runner, participating in many marathons.

LLNL colleagues remember Reisdorf as the consummate team player who worked constantly to master new technologies and technical skills. He worked at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) developing the “campaign management” software used to set up NIF experiments.

“Paul was one of those rare individuals who is technically at the top and who is constantly learning and bringing new technical skills to the team,” said Doug Speck, a NIF colleague. “He made the whole team better.”

His dedication to family, friends and colleagues and determination to make the most of his time earned the admiration of all who knew him, according to Speck. “He didn’t let the disease own his life.”

Reisdorf is survived by his wife, Marlys, and their two children, Heidi (7) and Nolan (4) of Tracy; parents, Jack and Jan Reisdorf of Mission Viejo; twin brother, Scott (Lynette) Reisdorf of Livermore; older brother, Matt (Joyce) Reisdorf of Houston, Texas and sister, Karen (John) Egley of Mission Viejo.

A memorial service was recently held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Tracy. Internment followed at a later date at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona Del Mar. An online guest book is available through Fry Memorial Chapel for condolences and special messages.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Stand Up to Cancer, an organization Reisdorf strongly supported.

See the article published in 2008 featuring Reisdorf and his brother, Scott.