Page created by: Elise Rowley

Juri Niiler, 88, of Lexington, MA formerly of Waltham and Glastonbury, CT passed away peacefully on February 22, surrounded by his family. Juri battled Parkinson’s Disease for 12 years with an indomitable spirit.

In addition to his beloved wife of 63 years, Joan M. (Elser) Niiler, he leaves children, Craig and his wife, Kristine (Carlson) of Freedom, NH, Elise (Niiler) Rowley and her husband, Michael of Lexington, MA, and Cynthia of Waltham, MA. He is also survived by beloved grandchildren Kurt of Burke, VT, Sonia Rowley of Pittsburgh, PA, Emma of Essex Junction, VT, and Peter Rowley and his wife Terryn of Berkeley, CA; his siblings, Andrus Niiler, Viiu Niiler and Riste Capps and brother-in-law Rudolf Hammermeister.

He was predeceased by his siblings, Kersti Hammermeister, Pearn P. Niiler, and Kaia Rubel.

Juri was born on April 24, 1936 in Tartu, Estonia a son of the late Herbert Aleksander Juhan Niiler and Lydia (Kurikoff) Niiler. He left Estonia in 1944 with his family while the Soviets were seizing control of the government and the family was at high risk of deportation. Juri and his family spent five years in displaced persons camps in Germany before immigrating to the US in 1949. The Niilers settled in Pittsburgh, where he attended junior high and high school. He became a US citizen in 1955.

Juri was a 1959 graduate of Penn State University, where he studied aeronautical engineering and participated in the ROTC program. He was a proud member of Acacia fraternity and had many dear lifelong friends through that organization. Juri was active in campus life and was a member of the Skull and Bones Senior Honor Society.

After graduation, he rose to the rank of Captain in the US Air Force, including a tour of duty in VietNam. He flew several types of large transport aircraft. Juri also served as a basic flight instructor for South Vietnamese pilots, as well as providing advanced jet certification.

Juri married Joan Millicent Elser in 1961. After his honorable discharge from the military in 1965, they settled in Glastonbury, CT. Juri spent his career as an aeronautical engineer at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, designing airplane engines. He holds a patent for his unique design of a fan blade which improved fuel efficiency and is still used in some jet engines today. His original work was key in developing the Pratt & Whitney JT9D engine which powered the first 747 aircraft. One of these engines now hangs in the Smithsonian Institution. Later in his career, Juri traveled widely as a part of an international consortium collaborating on passenger airplane engine design.

He completed two master’s degrees from RPI, one in engineering and the other in business management.

Juri brought his creative intellect to many other parts of his life, including hobbies of carpentry and photography. Juri was a lifelong student of history, with a passion for travel and adventure. He traveled to more than 42 countries in his lifetime. An Eagle Scout, Juri was involved in scouting as a trip leader for numerous hiking, backpacking, and camping trips for Troop 34 in Glastonbury. He also taught countless people to ski and organized hikes and other outings for friends and family. After retiring from his work at Pratt and Whitney, Juri became a popular ski instructor at King Pine Ski Area in Madison, NH, where he worked part-time until he was 77.

Juri was generous in his support and encouragement for his community; he had a knack for open-ended questions, always interested in going deeper. One of his favorites was, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” He is remembered by many as helping them see their life and the world from a new perspective.

Juri was a lifelong member of the Lutheran church, most recently at First Lutheran Church in Waltham, MA, where his daughter Cynthia is the music director. After moving to Massachusetts in later years, he quickly became a stalwart member of the special community there.

Family and friends will honor and remember Juri's life by gathering for a viewing at the Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Thursday, March 6th from 4 to 7pm. His funeral service will be celebrated on Friday in The First Lutheran Church, 6 Eddy Street at 10:30am. The Rev. Tom Maehl will officiate. Military honors will be rendered at the conclusion of the service by the Air Force followed by a collation in Founders Hall at the church. Burial is private. Family visitation at the home of the Rowley family on March 7 from 5 to 8 pm.