[List] Obituary: George Kirchoff

[Cecil Stokes]

*Fairhope, AL- George Frederick Kirchoff, Jr.* died July 29, 2020. He 
was born on August 26, 1932, to Regina Moreno and George Frederick 
Kirchoff in Birmingham, Alabama. He graduated in 1955 from *Auburn 
University,* Auburn, Alabama, with a degree in engineering physics, and 
joined the United States Navy, earning his wings to serve as a Naval 
Aviator. He married Gene Golson in 1956 and was deployed to the Far East 
aboard the United States Aircraft Carrier USS Princeton and left the 
Navy in 1959 as a lieutenant.

George and his family moved to Annandale, Virginia, and he began his 
rewarding career in engineering and helped develop the ARCAS sounding 
rocket and the Meteorological Rocket Network. From 1963-1972, George was 
a Program Manager for Northrop Carolina Corporation in Asheville, North 
Carolina, developing rockets for space applications and numerous 
military flares and munitions.

George joined *Thiokol Corporation *in 1972 as a rocket engineer, and 
moved his family to Brigham City, Utah. When Thiokol corporation merged 
with Morton Norwich Inc. and the companies split in 1989, George stayed 
with Morton, later named Morton International. He and his team were 
responsible for developing the airbag for automobiles, a monumental 
achievement.

George served as Vice President of Automotive Safety Programs and later 
as Managing Director of Morton International Europe. He and Gene 
relocated to Germany. In 1998, as Senior Vice President of Automotive 
Programs, George retired from Morton International/Autoliv.

George earned numerous awards during his career. In 1978, he was the 
recipient of the first Department of Transportation's National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration's "Safety Award for Engineering 
Excellence" and won an award again in 1994. In 1991, George was awarded 
the "H.H.Bliss Award" by Ralph Nader for pioneering work in automotive 
air bags and occupant safety. In 1997, he received a "Pathfinder Award" 
from the Automotive Occupant Restraints' Council which describes George 
as: "A person who starts down a new path armed with nothing but his own 
vision and integrity." In 1998, George became President of the 
Automotive Occupant Restraints' Council (now known as the Automotive 
Safety Council), serving in that position until his retirement in 2008.

Recognizing George's passion and achievements in engineering and safety, 
BMW presented George the "Lifetime Achievement Award" in 2011: "In 
recognition of your many years of tireless innovation on automotive 
airbags to help save lives and reduce serious injuries, anonymous to 
those you protected, but well known to those of us who respect your 
pioneering accomplishments, your lifetime of achievements are recognized 
and appreciated."
George's passion extended to his family and church, Fairhope United 
Methodist Church, where he served as Sunday school teacher, a lay 
speaker, and a Stephen Minister. He was also an active member of the 
Fairhope Rotary Club and SCORE. He was loved and respected for his 
generosity of spirit and concern for others. He led with a smile, and he 
and Gene, his partner of sixty-three years, studied and learned 
together, and opened their home and hearts to many friends.

He leaves his beloved wife, Gene, children, Eleanor Gene Nickelsberg 
(Barry), Daniel Anderson Kirchoff (Jennifer), and Jon Frederick Kirchoff 
(Amy), grandchildren, Sara Elizabeth Billian (Miles), Joshua David 
Billian, Angela Kirchoff and Anders Kirchoff, and his only sister, 
Margaret Kirchoff Pennington.

A memorial service will be held later. Memorials can be made to Fairhope 
United Methodist Church, Caring Ministries, 155 South Section Street 
Fairhope, Al 36532

To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store 
<https://sympathy.legacy.com/en-us/funeral-flowers/name/george-kirchoff-funeral-flowers/p196616667/?affiliateId=331&pm=240>. 

Published in The Salt Lake Tribune on Aug. 11, 2020.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/saltlaketribune/obituary.aspx?n=george-frederick-kirchoff&pid=196616667
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