Kenneth Jolls
October 19, 1933 - June 21, 2025

"Dr. Jolls was my thermodynamics professor at Brooklyn Poly in 1966. While us students were in a lab playing guitar he came in and really impressed me with his playing. He said that making a living as a musician was difficult and that is why he went back to become a chem engineer. I asked him if he wanted to play with my band and he came along on numerous occasions and was wonderful on the vibes. One wedding job he was with us and did not have a band jacket like ours and we were sitting down eating. A New York music union delegate came in and took our union cards because we did file a contract for the job. Dr. Jolls did not say anything and kept eating and the delegate did not think he was in the band. I graduated in June 1966 and had a job offer. It was for $675 a month (about $4 per hour) and Dr. Jolls said that more than he was making as a professor. I kept in touch and remember him telling me that he was asked to create a postal stamp with a thermodynamic theme and this was his 15 minutes of fame. He was a wonderful person and outstanding as an engineer, professor and musician. RIP dear Dr. Jolls and my sincere sympathy to the family"

"To the family and friends of Ken,I met Ken many years ago when he purchased his home throught me. He was an amazing musician and a wonderful person. Ed Hendrickson Sr"

"I had the great pleasure of meeting Ken years ago when he was inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame in Des Moines. I often drove to Ames to hear him play piano at the Chocolaterie Stam. During breaks, we had fascinating discussions about science and music. I?m shocked and saddened to learn of his death today. I admired his musicianship and his intellect and his tenacity in overcoming polio as a child in an iron lung. Ken persevered and triumphed over the polio again later in life. I greatly admired his indomitable spirit. I?m shocked and very sad to learn today of his passing. I hope to be able to attend his service. I will pray for his family and friends and faculty that knew n loved him, I hadn?t been able to see him or hear him or visit with him for 8 yrs or so, but my heart is sad to know he is gone. But I thank God for crossing our paths many years ago and the brief yet rich friendship that we shared. Denise Jones Ankeny "

"In loving memory of KEN JOLLS, a chemical engineer and jazz musician with a passion for educating, I am posting the sonnet that I wrote for him the day before he died and then read out loud to Ken as I sat with him during his final day of life. I am unable to go to Ken's memorial service, but I send my sympathy and condolences...and this poem...to his friends and family who will be gathering together to honor Ken. My memories of Ken, his kindness, and his invigorating conversations always brighten my day, even as I miss him! THE CHEMISTRY OF MUSIC ? A Poem for Ken Jolls by Erica B. Fuchs, June 20, 2025 Your passionate delight in music has a chemical effect: your mind and hands convert air, wood, and metal into jazz and help combine musicians into bands. Your bands then strengthen our communities, uniting us through music?s history so that we reach beyond our boundaries and hear how we?re connected musically. Your songs reverberate through time and space, forever changed by energy you?ve spent. You?ve made the world a kinder, better place by living life like you?re the instrument. Your love for music lives on and transcends because you?ve transformed strangers into friends!"

"Dr. Jolls was a fantastic professor, a caring human and a friendly presence in the Chemical and Biological department. May he rest in peace. I will be sending a special prayer in his name today. "

"Ken was just a wonderful person where art and science were hand in hand what a joy to spend time around him. A loss in both places."