Scott Lewis, age 45, of Salem, Oregon passed away unexpectedly and peacefully at his home on March 22, 2025. He was the dearly loved son of Mark (AACS ’72) and Ann Bernreuther Lewis (AACS ’73).
Born at Madigan Army Medical Center into an Air Force family, Scott lived in Washington, Holland, Germany, Syracuse NY, Montgomery Alabama and Belleville Illinois with his family.
He earned his BS degrees in Mathematics and Physics at University of Dayton, his MS in Physics at University of Denver, and completed his graduate work for his PhD in Applied Physics at the Colorado School of Mines and Engineering. He was a research engineer at the Air Force Engineering Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB working on laser technology, but came to the conviction that his love of physics should be used to help people. He worked as a research scientist at Ascent Solar in Colorado focused on improving solar cell technology until the government cut funding for renewable energy and the company closed. He decided to change his career focus and completed imaging training at the Pima Medical Institute. He then began working in healthcare imaging doing x-rays, CAT scans and MRIs in orthopedic surgeons’ offices and hospitals—including in the emergency department and in operating rooms.
Scott lived an active adventurous life. He was an Eagle Scout, worked summers during college as a backcountry ranger at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, held multiple martial arts black belts, and loved hiking, backpacking, and travelling the US, Europe and Asia. He canoed across Missouri and also bicycled across Missouri. He especially enjoyed visiting national parks, Hawaii, Japan and Norway. He loved dogs and was very active in the Golden Retriever Rescue (GRR) Society while living in Colorado.
In his personal life, he focused on yoga, tai chi, meditation, hiking, and a vegetarian lifestyle. He was a person of great integrity and patient kindness.
He is survived by his parents Mark and Ann Lewis of Wellsville, his brother John of Colorado, his paternal grandmother Elsie Mae Lewis Bottoms of Wellsville, his Uncle Gary and Aunt Lisa Lewis of Wellsville, Aunt Elyn Lewis of Arizona, Aunt Jane Lewis of Taiwan, Aunt Beth Woodworth of NY, Aunt Elaine Blackmer of Colorado, Uncle David Bernreuther of Pennsylvania, Uncle Wes and Aunt Carol Bernreuther Fort of Georgia, and numerous cousins and their families.
A memorial service will be conducted at the Little Genesee Seventh Day Baptist Church at 1:30 pm Wednesday June 18. Memorials may be made to The Nature Conservancy or the Sierra Club.
