Emil Miles Kaegi was born December 17, 1932, in Wisconsin and died July 13, 2022, in Mission Viejo, California.
He was the only son of Emil and Anna E. Kaegi.
He was survived by his wife, Maria C. (Nardone), of 59 years.
He had three sons, Emil Miles Jr. (Patte) of Aliso Viejo, California, Thomas Paul (Kathy) of Lincoln, Massachusetts, and David Maurer (Brenda) of Scripps Ranch, California.
His beloved grandchildren are Emily, Tyler, Graham, Matthew, Zoe and Thomas.
Emil’s father died when he was very young, and he was raised by his mother in Philadelphia. He graduated from John Bartram High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in aeronautical engineering from Pennsylvania State University, and another Master of Science in electrical engineering from University of Pennsylvania. He met Maria while working on defense systems for General Electric Corporation in Philadelphia. He and Maria had three boys while living in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, and they moved to California in 1973.
Emil worked in the development of medical radiographs for a decade with the Xonics Corporation, and then returned to defense and space work at the Aerospace Corporation in the 1980s for the remainder of his career.
Emil had varied interests and a tremendous memory. He could recount the 13 original colonies, their capitals and their governors. He could help with advanced mathematics problems and had most physics formulas committed to memory. Walking through a museum, he didn’t spare any room, exhibit or plaque.
Emil was mostly quiet, except when he wasn’t. He was a man of great integrity and insisted on honesty. He had a soft spot for dogs. He was a lifelong fan of all the Philadelphia sports teams, and the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Emil avidly supported his son’s interests, especially soccer. He coached for years at AYSO region 13, managed and coached club soccer programs, and was a staunch supporter of the La Cañada High School Spartans.
He loved automobiles and owned a Jaguar and an MG as a young man. His prized car was a 1987 BMW M6 that he kept garaged for decades. One of his great regrets is not meeting a great-grandchild.
There will be a Catholic Mass celebrated at Corpus Christi Church in Aliso Viejo on Friday, November 24, at 1 p.m. Family and friends are welcome. A reception will follow.
His ashes will be interred at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hanover Township, Pennsylvania.
