- September 2012: Prof. Edward Bilpuch, Henry W. Newson Professor Emeritus, passed away in Duke Hospital of heart failure on Saturday, September 15. Prof. Bilpuch joined the Duke Physics faculty as Assistant Professor in 1963 and succeeded Prof. Henry Newson as the Director of TUNL in 1978 until his retirement from this position in 1992. Funeral services will be at 3:00 pm on Friday, September 21, at the Duke University Divinity School in the Goodson Chapel. Visitation will be 6:00 – 8:00 pm Thursday at the Howerton and Bryan Funeral Home at 1005 West Main Street in Durham.
- July 2012: Former Duke physics professor (1970-1992), Fearghus O'Foghludha, an expert in radiation therapy died July 10 at Duke University Hospital. He was 85. You can read more about Dr. O'Fogludha in Duke Today's article here.
- April 2012: A memorial service for members of the Duke community who have died this year including Jeffrey H. Addison, a technician at TUNL who passed away in January, will be held on Thursday, April 26 from 3-3:30pm in Duke North Atrium Courtyard (outdoor space by Duke Hospital cafeteria). Staff is invited to a time of community, prayer, meditation, music, grief and hope to reflect of the losses of co-workers, family members, friends and others. The ceremony will involve a reading of names, poetry, music and a Blessing of the Hands.
- January 2012: I am very happy to inform you of the excellent news that Prof. Ashutosh Kotwal has agreed to take the leadership position of Associate Chair for Teaching (ACT) in Physics starting July 1, 2012. I also like to take this opportunity to thank Prof. Stephen Teitsworth for doing a terrific job as ACT in the last three years. In the next several months, Profs. Teitsworth, Kotwal and I will work closely to ensure a smooth transition.
- January 2012: I am writing to inform you of the sad news that Jeff Addison, a technician at TUNL, passed away on Friday, Jan 20 at Duke hospital while waiting for a heart transplant. Jeff's obituary can be found online here. The funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Clements Funeral Chapel, Durham. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Addison Family Cemetery, Durham. The online guest book for Jeff is posted here. Sympathy cards will be on the table by the elevator in the TUNL building. All are welcome to sign it by 10:00 am on Tuesday. Jeff will be greatly missed by those who have known him in the last a few years.
- January 2012: I just heard from Dean Calderbank that the APT Committee has recommended, and Provost Lange agreed, that Prof. Kate Scholberg be promoted to Full Professor. Provost Lange will execute the promotion and notify the Board of Trustees of this action at the earliest occasion. Warm congratulations to Prof. Scholberg!
- January 2012: Alton Lovette's wife, Bobbie Lovette passed away on Saturday January 7, 2012 at Duke University Medical Center. Alton Lovette was the Physics instrument shop manager and TUNL employee for decades. If you know Alton, please send him a message via this website. He and his family would greatly appreciate it.
- December 2011: I was given some sad news. Peggy O'Quinn (Richard O'Quinn’s mother) passed away Saturday, December 10. The service arrangements are being handled by O'Quinn Peebles Funeral Home at 1310 S Main Street, Lillington, NC (910) 893-3232. The family visitation will be held prior to the funeral service at Antioch Baptist Church in Mamers, NC on Tuesday the 13th. Visitation starts at 1:00 PM and the service is at 3:00 PM. There is a sympathy card in the 4th printer area at TUNL. All are welcome to sign it.
- December 2011: I just heard the very good news that the APT Committee has recommended, and the Provost has agreed, that Prof. Steffen Bass be appointed as Full Professor with tenure in the Department of Physics. The appointment will be brought to the Board of Trustees for final approval at the earliest occasion. Congratulations to Prof. Bass!
- December 2011: Evelyn Howell (Prof. Calvin Howell's wife)'s father passed away. Mr. Eugene (Jack) Gatling had been battling illness for more than a year and succumbed on the evening of Wednesday, November 30, 2011, surrounded by this children and other family members. He was 86 years old. Funeral services will be held at The Eveninglight Church of God in Christ Jesus (505 NC-305 Windsor, NC 27986) on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 11:00 AM (Viewing will be from 10:00 to 11:00 AM).
- September 2011: Graduate student Hung-Ming Tsai (advisor: Prof. Berndt Mueller) successfully defended his thesis on September 12. Congratulations!
- September 2011: Graduate student Joel Greenburg and his wife Rachael had there baby girl 9/28/11 at 10:38 a.m. They named her Madelyn Elise. Congratulations!!
- September 2011: Prof. Richard Palmer and Liliana F Estoppey got married in September, 2011. Congratulations!
- August 2011: I am saddened to report that postdoc James Joseph's wife Angela has passed away. From James: Angela passed away early Friday morning August 26, at home, peacefully, and in her sleep. She fought and lived well to the end which was swift, sudden and too soon. There is a great dedication on the homepage of Raleigh Charter High School. Angela touched a great many people. For those who feel they need to say goodbye there will be a service at walkers funeral home in Hillsborough (205 N. Churton St, Hillsborough 27278) at 1:00 on Saturday. If anyone wishes to do or send anything, Angela's parents, brother and I would like them to contribute to Raleigh Charter High School. On there website is a link for donations. For online donations to the Phoenix fund there is an option to donate in someone's memory.
- August 2011: HEP Staff Assistant Miriam Vines is proud to announce the birth of her daughter Juliet Grayson Vines at 12:17am on Friday, August 26th weighing two pounds and ten ounces and measuring 15.2" long. Both mother and daughter are doing well. Juliet makes great strides every day in Duke's NICU where she will remain until her November due date.
- June 2011: Congratulations to Prof. Hubert Bray and wife Heidi on the birth of their fourth child Jonathan Jacob on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 1:18pm. Jonathan weighed in at 8 lbs, 5.5 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. Both Jonathan and Heidi are doing great.
- February 2011: Donna Ruger is pleased to announce that she has become a grandmother again. Shelby Helen Ruger was born on Feb. 10, 2011 to her son Jason and his wife Hassie.
- February 2011: Postdoc Hugo Cavalcante's wife Lucelia gave birth to their daughter Lua on Friday, February 18, 2011. Lua weighed 7 pounds and one ounce. Mother and Daughter are both doing well. Congratulations to Hugo and Lucelia! A photo can be viewed here.
- February 2011: Congratulations to DUS Assistant Elena Musty and husband Mike on the birth of their daughter Keira Irena! Keira was born on Thursday, February 17, 2011 around 5:15pm weighing 8lbs and measuring 19" long with a full head of dark hair. Mother and Baby are doing fine.
- February 2011: Assistant to the Director of Graduate Studies, Donna Ruger would like to share that she has become a grandmother again, this time with a grandson. Her daughter Jennifer and her husband John gave birth to Jackson Miller* on June 8, 2010 and then on February 10, 2011, her new granddaughter Shelby Helen* born to her son Jason and his wife Hassie. *Miller is Donna's maiden name and Helen is her husband's mother's name.
- February 2011: Physics Department T-shirts are still available from George Laskaris in FFSC 2322. There a limited number and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- February 2011: I am very pleased to pass on the news that the Provost has recommended that Prof. Roxanne Springer be promoted to Full Professor of Physics, effective Jul. 1, 2011. Please congratulate her when you see her next!
- February 2011: The Graduate Student Organization Tea Time is held each Thursday at 3:30pm in Physics 298.
- January 2011: The Physics Department staff threw a baby shower for Elena Musty, Assistant to the Director of Undergraduate Studies, on January 14th. Elena is from Russia so the staff ladies wanted to treat her to a full-blown American baby shower. There were balloons, pink cupcakes and lots of cute presents for Elena and her husband Mike's daughter due February 15th! A photo of the event can be seen here.
- January 2011: Professor Emeritus Henry Fairbank passed January 2011. A note from Dan Gauthier, Chair:We are sad to announce that Professor Emeritus Henry Fairbank passed away this month. Henry was a recognized expert in low temperature physics and was chair of the department of physics from 1963-1973. The family's plans are not definite yet, but there will likely be a memorial service sometime this spring. I will pass on information as I hear about it. Please keep the Fairbank family in your thoughts. You might be interested in seeing a video interview of Henry, which can be found here.
- January 2011: The New York Times recently published an article about Randy Best’s daughter, Madeline, and her dance performance. The piece, entitled “Selective Memory,” ran during the COIL festival in New York city. See more about the performance here.
- January 2011: Senior Research Scientist Constance Kalbach Walker has just published her translation and editing of a monograph entitled ""Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness"" by Adolphe Monod, a famous 19th century French evangelical. This is the third work by Monod that Connie has translated and published. It is issued by Solid Ground Christian Books.
- December 2010: Graduate student Jie Ren and her husband, Hsiang-Kuo Yuan, welcomed their daughter into the world in December of 2010. Their daughter, Deanna Hope Yuan, was born on December 15, 6:39pm. The baby is 7lb 14oz, and is doing well.
- December 2010: I just received word from Dean Crumbliss that Prof. Chris Walter has been granted tenure! Starting January 1, 2011, his title will be Associate Professor of Physics. Please congratulate him on this important and richly deserved achievement.
- September 2010: Duke Physics faculty member, Prof. Mark Kruse, and his wife are proud to welcome twins into the world. Mother and babies are all doing fine.
- February 2010: Duke Physics staff member, Donna Elliott, is proud to announce that she became a grandmother at 11:30pm on Monday 2/1/10. She and her family welcomed a beautiful, bouncing boy.
- January 2010: Assistant to the Chair, Cristin Paul, is happy to announce the birth of her daughter Corinne Samantha born Tuesday, January 19. Corinne weighed a whopping 10 lbs, 5 oz and was 21" long. Both mother and daughter are doing very well.
- October 2009: Mrs Eugenia Ladd, Secretary to the Duke Physics Chair over many years and who retired sometime in the eighties, passed away on Oct. 22, 2009. Jene Ladd was to be ninety years old next year. She was a much loved person and some of you have known her and will still remember her.
- July 2009: Prof. Steffen Bass and his wife, Almasa, were very happy to announce the arrival of their son, Reiner Ismael Bass. He was born on 7/31/2009 and Mom and baby are doing fine.