Pete Balsells’ Life Honored at UCI

July 24, 2023 - Pete Balsells, founder of the Balsells Fellowship program in the Samueli School of Engineering, was honored at a celebration of life event on Saturday, June 10 at UCI. Balsells died Aug. 10, 2022, at age 94. The event was attended in person and remotely by many current and former fellows as well as Balsells' family members and close friends. 

Balsells was born in Barcelona in 1928 and was raised during the Spanish Civil War. In 1947, at age 18, he emigrated to the United States. After graduating from University of Colorado  Boulder, he married and started the Bal Seal Engineering Company with his wife, Joan, in 1958.

Balsells partnered with UCI in 1995 to create the Balsells Fellowship to bring talented young engineers and scientists from Catalonia to study and conduct research at UCI. Since 1996, the program has housed over 225 Balsells fellows, many of whom have returned to Catalonia to teach and continue their research.

“Pete Balsells’ impact on our engineering program is profound,” said Samueli School Dean Magnus Egerstedt. “Thanks to his vision, guidance and generous support, we have seen hundreds of talented young engineers and scientists from Catalonia come to UCI, and almost 50 of our faculty have been involved across virtually all areas of engineering.”

“Pete’s vision and dedication to engineering education was based on his own personal experience as an immigrant in the U.S., an experience that he wanted to share with new generations of young engineers and scientists from Catalonia who could contribute to the betterment of both California and Catalonia,” said Roger Rangel, professor emeritus of mechanical and aerospace engineering and director of the Balsells Fellowship Program.

At the event, fellows were invited to tell stories about Balsells and his impact on their educational journeys. Current fellows shared poster presentations about their research under the program.

– Lilith Christopher