In Memoriam: Paul A. Stokstad ’66 Th’67 Th’68

Lifelong entrepreneur and educator Paul Stokstad passed away July 8, 2024. 

A member of the American Association of Physics Teachers since 1965, he founded PASCO Scientific in 1964 while pursuing his AB in physics at Dartmouth and BE and ME at Thayer School. In Hanover, he was also a brother of Alpha Chi Alpha and active in student workshops. He conceived of PASCO as a science fair project, developing it in his college dorm room, expanding into the family garage, and ultimately growing it into a global leader in science education. “If I had to give myself a title, it would be ‘tinkerer,’ ” Stokstad, president of the Roseville, Calif.-based firm, told the Sacramento Business Journal in 2014. 

Since the introduction of Stokstad’s first product, the Millikan Oil Drop Apparatus, PASCO has advanced to support educators and students in more than 100 countries. He began with apparatus for physics and engineering labs; branched out to include sensors, interfaces, and data collection and analysis software; and most recently developed interactive textbooks. “Anywhere we see an opportunity to put modern tools in the hands of science educators and students,” he said, “we develop the best products in the market to fit that need.” 

That determination helped PASCO earn three 2023 Best of STEM Educators Pick Awards, for the digital resources in PASCO Academy, a meter stick optics system, and introductory Coding with Vehicle Sensor Technologies Kit. Stokstad also worked with ministries of education to transform science learning for entire countries and developed hands-on tools for science and engineering programs at universities and colleges around the world. 

Under his leadership PASCO was a strong supporter of American Association of Physics Teachers for decades, exhibiting at meetings and sponsoring workshops and events at the winter and summer meetings, including the annual Apparatus Competition. He was also an active Thayer alumnus, serving as a longtime fundraiser and as a member of the Dartmouth Society of Engineers Executive Committee. 

He is survived by Shelley, his wife of almost 30 years.