* Irving J. Spiro; Retired Physicist

Irving J. Spiro, an expert on infrared technology who traveled the world conducting seminars, has died at a Burbank hospital. He was 77.

A longtime resident of Sherman Oaks, Spiro died Thursday following heart surgery, his daughter, Roxanne Camron, said.

Born in Chicago, he earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1936. He came to California in 1940, where he later earned a master of science degree in thermal engineering from UCLA. During the 1950s, he worked as chief engineer at Borman Engineering and the Wagner Co., both in North Hollywood.

He worked for 30 years at The Aerospace Corp. in El Segundo, retiring last year as senior engineer and manager of missile surveillance technology. Spiro was an international authority on optical systems, specializing in infrared technology. He also served as a mentor to fellow physicists, said a longtime friend, physicist Elliott Katz.

Spiro, who held six patents, wrote or co-wrote 68 papers on military infrared systems in addition to a 1989 resource book called “Infrared Technology Fundamentals.” He was editor of the International Society of Optical Engineering from 1975-88 and associate editor of the journal Optical Engineering. He helped to found the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers in the 1970s, holding the offices of secretary, vice president and president of the Los Angeles chapter and serving as a member of its National Board of Engineers. Spiro was also a Fellow of the Optical Society of America and belonged to Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Lamda Tau.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Roslyn Spiro; daughter Roxanne Camron of Thousand Oaks; brother Robert Spiro of Great Neck, N.Y.; and two granddaughters. His son, Marty Spiro, died in 1979.

A graveside service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at Eden Memorial Park, 11500 Sepulveda Blvd., in Mission Hills. Kapin Mortuary in San Fernando is handling the arrangements. Donations can be made in Spiro’s name to the American Diabetes Assn. or a charity of the donor’s choice.