Category: Uncategorized

Ken Bych

Born/Raised: I was born in Glen Cove, on Long Island, NY in 1955. I grew up in Syosset in a Catholic family of 5 kids. We always had love, support and the necessities of life. After the blizzard of 1967, we moved to LA in 1969 and Dad worked at LAX. I went to high school in Woodland Hills. 4 out of 5 of my siblings graduated college. We all grew up traveling on TWA, with several cross-country drives taken as well.

Education:

B.S. Engineering Physics, UC Berkeley 1977

M.S. Nuclear Engineering, University of Washington 1981

Professional Engineer, State of California, Nuclear, 1984

Career:

I took a good paying job out of college with Schlumberger Well Services for 2 years. That worked out well, as I saved enough money and obtained a full ride from the Department of Energy to pay for my fusion research. But the allure of fusion was mitigated by the reality ofthe (at the time) unsolved physics challenges, so I chose to work as an engineer in fission power and took a job at PG&E in 1981 to help start up Diablo Canyon (DCPP). I was employed in the SF Nuclear Office for 12 years and lived in the East Bay during that time (Oakland Hills & Walnut Creek).

I worked supporting DCPP for 40 years in many engineering and leadership roles, retiring in 2021 as the Nuclear Engineering Manager. We had many significant accomplishments as a team, and the plant was and is recognized as a very safe and well operated plant.

Reason to move to the Central Coast: My wife Carol and I moved to San Luis Obispo in 1993 with a one-year-old child and a second on the way. PG&E offered me a promotion to come to work at the Plant.

Hobbies/Interests: I have always had a love of recreating in the outdoors and playing sports: hiking, snow skiing, kayaking as well as baseball fan, college football fan (plus Niners). We love to travel and have made many memorable trips around the country and overseas as a family. They still love to join us when they can.

Notable Accomplishments Personal highlights:

• I have visited all 7 continents
• I have snow skied over 750 thousand vertical feet in a season, and average above 500K per year in retirement (North Lake Tahoe).
• I went to the first Bill Graham presents: “Day on the Green” Concert in Oakland California in 1974.

Professional highlights:

• Recognized by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) for implementing the first US probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) computer tool for daily operator use in the control room; and for implementing a nuclear version of US airline maintenance model emphasizing predictive maintenance technologies and addressing prevention of likely failure modes (reliability centered maintenance)
• Chairman of the nuclear industry reliability effort for two years.
• Led the implementation of Aging Management Studies at DCPP for major component groups, conducted single point vulnerability studies across all plant systems and led many teams in analyzing and responding to equipment challenges using industry standard methods.
• Hired many of the existing engineering staff at DCPP.

Family: My wife Carol and I celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary in April. We love to travel and to visit our three adult kids and two grandkids. Our adult kids are successful professionals and have a supportive and great significant other in their lives.

greg Horne, Chair

RAM’s who attended the May luncheon or came to Coffee Cabinet later in the same week, will have heard that, after 5 years as Chairman of the Membership Committee, Bob Lever has handed over the baton to Greg Horne.

Bob took on the role of Membership Chairman at a particularly challenging time, as we were trying to come to terms with the strictures of COVID. In-person meetings were suspended as we went virtual. Membership dwindled. Once we returned to normalcy, Bob directed a recruiting blitz with spectacular results. Of our 168 active members today, 91 were inducted between 2022 and 2026.

Promotional activities initiated by Bob during this time included a SLORAM booth at the SLO Farmers’ Market, creation of new recruiting pamphlets and business cards, and announcements in social media and outlets such as the New Times. Bob arranged to produce SLORAM merchandise such as ball caps and shirts, as well as coordinated the creation of new name badges. In June 2025, Bob arranged a member trip to watch the SLO Blues play the Santa Barbara Foresters, which was well-attended.

In his 15 years as a RAM, Bob has filled numerous roles in SLORAM with grace and skill, including Big Bean, Little Ram, Big Ram, and Director, leading to his receipt of the Paul V. Tuttle Meritorious Service Award for 2024. He is now taking a well-deserved rest from these involvements. We wish him the best and many more fun-filled occasions with the RAM’s!

Carl, the BIG (& Tall) RAM, is touring Europe with his bride. As the Little RAM (by only 8 or 9 inches) I’m writing the BLEAT this month.

We are an Active Group for sure: check out what we’ve been up to the past month…

On 5/1 the Hiker’s Group hiked up to the “Serenity Swing” overlooking Poly Canyon. They continue to explore the Central Coast. Check out the Bulletin to, perhaps, join them on their next adventure.

On 5/7, the Wine Tasters enjoyed local wines at the Brecon Estate Winery in Paso Robles and raised a glass in memory of Jim Murphy. Check out the Bulletin for the next Tasting.

On 5/14, the RAMs celebrated National BBQ Day (5/16) at the weekly Coffee Cabinet (CC)meeting. RAM member Bill Fieldhouse, (retired engineer with CAL-TRANS) is a lifelong caterer and BBQ Master; fun program! He had to go SOLO as his sidekick was “stuck” in Solvang (BS!! It was the Danish, Bill!). The best question he had was; “as a CAL-TRANS employee, did you use Roadkill at your BBQs?” We all had fun…!

It should be noted that May 2026 is Bill’s 30th anniversary as a RAM. He was indentured (inducted) on 5/1/1996. We not only acknowledged Bill, but Bob Mott as well (36 years in the RAMs) who was in attendance. We had 2 of the 3 “earliest” RAMs at the same meeting…

At our monthly luncheon on 5/19, Larry Price introduced our speaker, Bobby Soto, an 8th generation Californian and a member of the Atascadero Historical Society. His topic: Anza Life in Cambria & early California history. Great program!

RAM history was made on 5/21 at our weekly CC meeting. Not only did Brad Parkinson share a “darn good” Cowboy poem, but our featured speaker was his son, Ian Parkinson. Ian is our current Sheriff here in SLO county. The Sheriff noted that it was the first time he ever spoke publicly in front of his dad. It’s also the first time the RAMs had a father & son both give presentations at the same meeting…how Kool is that!

On 5/23, Armed Forces Day, RAM member Worth Vogel (USN Lt. Cmdr. Ret) was the featured speaker at the Maritime Museum in Morro Bay. He spoke about his experiences in Viet Nam and life in the Navy. He is a living hero.

As you can see, we are having FUN while being ACTIVE! We live up to our name: Retired ACTIVE Men. If you can, come join us! Remember: just keep MOVING!

There are other activities you can join: the Book Club, SLORAM Day Trips, Golf and the “Just Lunch Bunch”.

Read & keep a copy of the SLORAM Bulletin for more information about what’s going on, where & when.

Carl the Tall and his BLEAT will return next month. See you soon…

Craig Perry Lil RAM (I’m only 5-11)