• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Michigan Aerospace Engineering
  • News & Events
  • Alumni & Friends
  • Contact Us
  • About
    • Message from the Chair
    • Mission
    • History
    • Facts & Figures
    • FXB Building
    • Department Publications
    • Visit Us
    • Contact Us
    • Faculty Search
  • Culture
    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Resources
    • Outreach & Partnerships
    • Student Life
    • Student Teams & Projects
    • Student Organizations
  • Research
    • Research Areas
      • Aerodynamics & Propulsion
      • Autonomous Systems & Control
      • Computation
      • Space Systems
      • Structures & Materials
      • Sustainable Aviation
    • Shared Facilities
    • Multidisciplinary Centers
    • Research Opportunities for Students
      • Graduate Research
      • Undergraduate Research
  • Undergraduate
    • Program Overview
    • Admissions
    • Degree Requirements
    • Scholarships
    • Study Abroad
    • Co-ops & Internships
    • Current Undergraduate Students
      • Declaring
      • Advising
      • Sequential Undergraduate/Graduate Studies (SUGS) Program
      • Undergrad Courses
      • Teaching Labs
      • Undergrad Awards
  • Graduate
    • Master of Science in Engineering
    • Master of Engineering
    • Doctor of Philosophy
    • Admission Guidelines & Planning
    • Application Process
    • Funding
    • Current Graduate Students
      • Grad Courses
      • Aero 590 Projects
      • Grad Awards
  • People
    • Faculty
      • Core Faculty
      • Research Faculty
      • Adjunct Faculty
      • Emeritus Faculty
      • Affiliated Faculty
    • Staff
    • News & Events
    • Alumni & Friends
    • Contact Us

Aerospace alumnus turns 100

U-M Aerospace engineering extends belated birthday wishes to centenarian Jack Tsu, class of 1941.

Written by: Laura Schmitt

September 24, 2021

Aerospace engineer, mountain climber, Olympic torch bearer, and University of Michigan alumnus Jack Tsu (BS 1941) celebrated his 100th birthday on August 2. Tsu gathered with his family and friends at his Manhattan Beach, CA, home to mark the occasion. 

Jack Tsu poses with a certificate
A proud Michigan alumnus, Jack Tsu is pictured holding a congratulatory certificate from the California legislature on his 100th birthday August 2, 2021

Born and raised in Shanghai China, Tsu left his homeland on his 18th birthday to attend school at the University of Michigan, where his older brother Henry had earned his degree. Although his English was limited, Tsu immersed himself in his studies and campus organizations like the Chinese Students Club and F.F. Fraternity, where he made many lifelong friends.

According to his self-published memoir, Tsu lived in Fletcher Hall and took a course in wind tunnel testing from Professor Felix Pawlowski, a noted researcher and founder of the aerospace engineering department at U-M. After graduating from Michigan he earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Caltech.  

Tsu enjoyed a successful career working for various aerospace engineering firms throughout the next 44 years, including Northrop Grumman, Radioplane Company, and TRW. His son Elbert Tsu said his father worked on Northrop YB-49 heavy bomber aircraft known as the Flying Wing as well as the Titan II intercontinental ballistic missile and space launch rocket. 

An avid runner, Tsu continued his fitness regimen throughout his retirement years. At age 70, he climbed Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the continental United States, for the second time in his life. Two years later, his sons Elbert and Theta accompanied him on a trek to the Mt. Everest base camp in Nepal, which is at nearly 18,000 feet. 

Tsu ran in scores of races and became a race organizer and participant in the Manhattan Beach 10K for more than 30 years. He won his age division 19 times, completing the race well into his 90s. In 2008, he achieved a lifelong dream of being a member of the Olympic torch relay team, carrying the flame for a brief stint as it made its way from Northern China to Beijing for the opening ceremonies. 

Explore: Aerospace Engineering Alumni

Footer

Michigan Engineering
  • News & Events
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
  • U-M Engineering Home
  • Strategic Vision
  • Graduate and Professional
  • Undergraduate
  • U-M Engineering Research News
  • AERO Department Feedback Form

© 2023 The Regents of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA Privacy Policy | Non-Discrimination Policy | Campus Safety

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube