CHAMPAIGN, IL- John Robinson Tucker, 70, of Champaign, IL, passed away on Saturday (April 12, 2014) at home. He was born on March 26, 1944 in Seattle, WA, to Clarence and Florence Robinson Tucker. John married Mary Greiner on May 14, 1988. She survives.

Also surviving are one son, Ross Tucker of Springfield, and one daughter and son-in-law Laura (Joel) Furrer of Urbana. He was preceded in death by his parents.

John was a retired Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois. Before coming to the university, he worked for the Aerospace Corporation in Los Angeles, California, as a research scientist.

He received his B.S. in physics in 1966 from the California Institute of Technology, and his Ph.D in theoretical physics in 1971 from Harvard University.

Early work included Tucker's theory which laid the groundwork for superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixers. This made it possible for radio telescope arrays to pick up weak signals coming from deep space without any loss. SIS mixers revolutionized radio astronomy. His later work focused on new nanoelectric architectures in silicon.

The family would like to thank Carle Home Care, Carle Hospice and Alpha Care for their loving support.

On Thursday, April 17th, 2014, there will be a memorial open house from 4 to 8 P.M. at the family home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Offices of Disability Services, University of Illinois, Springfield (UIS). www.uis.edu/disabilityservices/