Clyde Peter Jupiter

Clyde Peter Jupiter passed away peacefully March 31, 2024 at the age of 95. Born October 31, 1928 in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Ella Celestine Jupiter and Clarence Edward Jupiter, Clyde was preceded in death by his parents; brother Clarence Joseph Jupiter, also of New Orleans; granddaughter Stephanie Schank; and great-granddaughter Janey Murdoch. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Schofield Jupiter; daughters Carol Garibaldi (Antoine), Lisa Crusto (Mitch), and Joan Jupiter; adopted children Virginia and Robert Ayers; stepchildren Deanna Matthews (Jeff), Michael Schank (Marisel), Stephen Schank (Lynn), Christian Schank (Candice), and Erika Layland (Nick); and several dozen grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Clyde attended public and parochial schools in New Orleans, graduating from Xavier University in 1948. He was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and was noted as one of the first African Americans to attend the University of Notre Dame in 1949. Following graduation, Clyde pursued a career in the field of physics, where he was renowned for his contributions to nuclear radiation detection and the advancing of nuclear energy. His dedicated work as a leader in the nuclear field included working for such agencies as the Atomic Energy Commission, Lawrence Laboratories, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Clyde served in various leadership roles for the American Nuclear Society from 1978-2000.  He also worked as an adjunct professor at Howard University in Washington, D.C. from 1981-1987 and as an invited lecturer at various universities across the United States.
Highlights of Clyde's career include being featured on the cover of Ebony Magazine ("Negroes at Notre Dame" issue, February 1950).  He was also the subject of a 1979 United Negro College Fund ad with the headline "This Jupiter Is No Myth."  After Clyde resigned from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, in 1987 he and his wife Pat started Jupiter Corporation in Wheaton, Maryland, working with government agencies in the field of nuclear waste management research. Clyde later co-founded AZ Isotopes in Bunker Hill, Indiana, where he served as senior scientist to provide radioisotopes for nuclear medicine imaging and research.  In October 2023, Clyde Jupiter was inducted as a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Clyde served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956 at the Chemical Corps Laboratory in Fort Detrick, Maryland.  He was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved sailboats, woodworking, and cooking Louisiana Creole delicacies such as gumbo, turtle stew, and many others.
Clyde Jupiter was loved.  Among all his extraordinary accomplishments, what was most important to Clyde was family.  Both relatives and friends can testify to his stories of growing up working at the A&P Warehouse "unloading freight cars and loading trucks for 89 and a half cents an hour," and taking shortcuts through "old Indian trails."  
If anyone ever needed a place to stay or a home cooked meal while in college, Clyde was always there with open arms.  There was even a time when a cousin stayed with Clyde while attending Howard University as a music major, providing Clyde with daily live jazz saxophone music.  Clyde was thrilled!
As we celebrate Clyde's return to his heavenly home, we can reflect on the values he instilled in all of us, his resilience, his "can do" attitude, and his overwhelming love for us all.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Kaysville Flint Street chapel, 1275 West 200 North in Kaysville. A viewing will precede the funeral from 9:45-10:45 a.m.
Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page.  The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Xavier University of Louisiana, Office of Institutional Advancement, 1 Drexel Drive, Box 66, New Orleans, LA 70125