The Life of Ivan I. Mueller

Born on January 9, 1930, in Budapest, Hungary to Irene and Laszlo. Ivan survived the Holocaust and later the Soviet Occupation. In 1956, immediately following the Hungarian Revolution, he escaped with his family to the West and made his way to New York City.

Ivan earned his PhD in Geodesy at The Ohio State University where he was offered a position upon graduation in 1960. As a professor and later Chairman of the Department of Geodetic Science, he advised PhD and masters students from around the world. During a career that spanned more than 30 years, Ivan authored five books and over 220 scientific papers and presentations. He founded the Center for Mapping at OSU and the NASA Center for the Commercial Development of Space on Real-Time Satellite Mapping. He was a humble recipient of many national and international honors and awards and was a member of several national academies of sciences.

Ivan met his wife Marianne in 1948, marrying her in 1950. Their first date, a concert conducted by Antal Dorati, was the prelude to a shared lifelong passion for opera, as well as orchestral and chamber music. Ivan loved taking pictures during extensive professional and personal travels around the world. He enjoyed reading, especially history. Mostly, he cherished family time spent in conversation. His children and grandchildren will forever remember his intellectual curiosity, encouragement of their dreams and personalities, and the special breakfasts he prepared just for them.

Ivan was known by family, friends, and colleagues around the world as a gentle and kind man with a clever wit and a twinkle in his eye. He is survived by Marianne; daughters Julianne and Lisa; grandchildren Natalie, Alison, Garrett, and Jacqueline; cousin Eva; and their families. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his memory be made to Chamber Music Columbus or The Metropolitan Opera.