Jordan Loftus

Jordan Loftus, ScD passed away on January 16, 2025 in Houston, TX. He was one month short of his 97th birthday.

Jordan was born in Lowell, MA on February 14, 1928 to Sadie and Aleck Loftus. Jordan met his wife Bernice Rubin on a blind date at his MIT dormitory on New Year’s Eve 1950 and was instantly smitten. They married on June 24, 1951 after her graduation from Lesley College. Bernice and Jordan were inseparable for their entire married lives of 73 years. Theirs was a deeply devoted and loving relationship.

Jordan received a BS in Chemical Engineering from MIT and a US Army commission in June 1950. He then worked for Merck in Rahway, NJ synthesizing Cortisone. Over New Year’s 1955, he, Bernice and Karen cruised to Brazil where he worked at the Petrobras Shale Oil Pilot Plant as the Chief Process Engineer. Departing in 1959, they journeyed back to the US after an extensive European holiday. They arrived home in time for Jordan to begin graduate studies in Chemical Engineering at MIT. He was awarded his ScD in 1963.

In November 1973, Jordan licensed his first combustion-related computer programs and was hired by Texaco as a combustion specialist. He wrote enhanced versions of the programs and added design of coal gasification oxy-firing equipment. 

In 1979, with help of his family, Jordan organized the first International Symposium on NOX Reduction under the auspices of the American Flame Research Committee (AFRC) to confront combustion related environmental pollution. From 1981 to 1995, he served as the Chairman of the AFRC and was Membership Secretary until 2019.

In February 1992, he was one of six prominent scientists inducted into the first class of Texaco Honorary Fellows, Texaco’s highest honor. Jordan retired from Texaco in March 1994. He held 4 US Patents.

Jordan always maintained an active presence in his community. He served as Aleph Godol of his AZA (Lowell, MA), Vice President of MIT Hillel, and House Chairman of Temple Emunah (Lexington, MA). Beginning in 1970, he served Congregation Beth Yeshurun as a member of the Board of Directors and of the Youth and Energetic Seniors Luncheon committees. Jordan and Bernice delivered Meals on Wheels for more than a decade. He volunteered as an AARP Taxes Preparer, preparing returns for other seniors. 

He is survived by his wife, 3 children: Karen Zalta, Carol Winograd, Brian Loftus and their spouses Alan Zalta, Marc Winograd, and Blakely Loftus; 6 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren: Alyson Zalta, her husband Stephen Schueller and their triplets Griffin, Ella, and Rylee; Ashley Zalta, her husband Joe Bress and their children Sylvia, George and Jack; Ryan Winograd, his wife Alison and their daughter Josephine; Evan Winograd and his wife Alyssa Huntington; Alec Winograd and his wife Sofía Winograd; Adam Loftus, his wife Cara Loftus and their daughter Lily. He was very proud of his children, their spouses, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren. He followed their lives closely and reveled in their accomplishments. His 9th great-grandchild and namesake Jordan, son of Alison and Ryan, was born ten days after his death. He is also survived by his sibling Roberta Sachs.

Jordan’s positive impact was undeniable. He will be lovingly remembered by all who knew him.

In Jordan's honor, the family asks that one consider a donation to ERJCC-Meals on Wheels program: https://www.erjcchouston.org/donations-giving/