Photo of Evelyn Speter Jetter

Evelyn Speter Jetter

1927 - 1979
Physics, Electrical Engineering
USA USA

Personal Information

Born: 1927

Died: 1979

Country of Birth: USA

Nationality: USA

Ethnicity: White

Education

Cooper Union BS Electrical Engineering 1950; Rutgers University MS Physics

Professional Life

Field of Study: Physics, Electrical Engineering

Institution/Corporation: RCA

Degrees & Memberships: Society of Women Engineers

Awards & Achievements

Awards: 1977, Achievement Award, David Sarnoff Research Center; 1981, CUAA Gano Dunn Award; 2009, Cooper Union Hall of Fame

Achievements: founding member of Society of Women Engineers; worked with Beatrice Hicks

Invented the automotive ignition transistor

Her daughter, Alexis Jetter, believes she died at age 52 of cancer because of her long career exposure to low-level radiation especially while working at the Atomic Energy Commission & Lionel Electronics

1st woman graduate of Cooper Union's night engineering school (1950)

She was the only mother on her block in Scotch Plains, NJ who knew how to use a slide rule & she taught neighborhood children how to use it

While she invented things to improve TVs she hated them

Was an excellent swimmer

She worked on atmospheric/environmental sensing equipment for & with Beatrice Hicks, setting up a workshop in her basement in NJ

Held 1 patent