This spring, the University community mourned the loss of three longtime faculty members.
Internationally recognized for his work in applied probability, Paul Schweitzer was a faculty member at the Simon Graduate School of Business for 32 years. He died March 27 at age 68.
As a young staffer at the Institute for Defense Analyses in the 1960s, Schweitzer was one of five analysts who authored the report 鈥淭he Bombing of North Vietnam,鈥� regarding the U.S. military campaign known as 鈥淥peration Rolling Thunder鈥� that began in 1965. According to the 1968 Defense Department study commonly known as the Pentagon Papers, the report 鈥渨as probably the most categorical rejection of bombing as a tool of our policy in Southeast Asia to be made before or since by an official or semi-official group.鈥� The report was one factor leading to the cessation of bombing in late 1968.
From 1977 until his death, he taught at the Simon School as a professor of operations research and computers and information systems. At Simon, he designed models for decision making, computational procedures to optimize large-scale distribution systems, and systems to evaluate data communications networks. Those systems are 鈥渢he gold standard used by the professionals designing and analyzing networks,鈥� says Abraham (Avi) Seidmann, the Xerox Professor of Computers and Information Systems and Operations Management at the Simon School.
Says Seidmann: 鈥淗is work was his life and his hobby, and he was a true intellectual as well as a warm person whom we miss very聽much.鈥�
Henry Fulbright, a professor emeritus in the Department of Physics and Astronomy who served on the faculty for nearly 40 years, died May 16. He was 90 years old.
During World War II, Fulbright worked on the Manhattan Project at Washington University in St. Louis and at Los Alamos, N.M. He joined the University faculty in 1950 as an assistant professor, and was promoted to full professor in 1956. He鈥檚 most widely remembered for supervising the rebuilding and modernization of the University鈥檚 26-inch cyclotron, an early version of a particle accelerator that was actively used until the 1960s. Because of his efforts, the University housed one of the most modern cyclotrons used for research for many years.
After 39 years as a full-time faculty member, Fulbright was named a professor emeritus in 1989.
鈥淗arry was not only an exceptional scientist, but he brought his 鈥榟ands-on鈥� skills to his teaching,鈥� says Nick Bigelow, chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. 鈥淗arry taught the advanced laboratory course for 11 years, which was required for all the department鈥檚 bachelor of science majors. He put tremendous effort into that course, so all the department鈥檚 graduates in that time benefited from working with such a dedicated experimental physicist.鈥�
A professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering for the past 45 years, Edward Titlebaum died May 27. He was 72.
A pioneer in mathematical communications theory and its application to radar and sonar, he conducted research that led to many widely employed improvements in naval sonar systems. He also contributed significantly to the development of more precise electrocardiogram analysis methods as well as to the creation of new music analysis and synthesis techniques.
鈥淓d delighted in the beauty of mathematics and science and his enthusiasm was infectious,鈥� says Mark Bocko, the chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
In 1996, Titlebaum became the vice provost for computing at the University, a position that he held for several years before returning to research and teaching full time.
鈥淓d and I have been friends since I began my career at the University 25 years ago,鈥� says Bocko. 鈥淎s a new faculty member back then I could always count on him for sound advice and support. He was a fine and wise human being with a great perspective on life. He delighted in everyone鈥檚 success鈥攈is children, those he mentored, his students, and the faculty. His counsel and friendship will be greatly missed both by me and by everyone he touched at the University.鈥�