ANovember 16 2003
Physics Prof. Morton Hamermesh Dies at 87 16 Nov 2003, Sun Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Newspapers.com
Physics Prof. Morton Hamermesh Dies at 87
By Lourdes Medrano Leslie
Star Tribune Staff Writer
Morton Hamermesh, a retired physics professor and former head of the University of Minnesota's School of Physics and Astronomy, died Friday in Minneapolis of complications from a heart attack. He was 87.
Hamermesh, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., joined the university in 1965 after two years as associate director at Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago. Previously, he had taught physics for about two decades at New York University and City College of New York — both alma maters — and at Stanford University in California.
Hamermesh left the University of Minnesota in 1969 for a similar post at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, but he returned to the Twin Cities a year later. He led the university's School of Physics and Astronomy until 1975, and retired in 1985.
Allen Goldman, who now leads the department, said Hamermesh will be missed. “We viewed him as a real leader who had a major impact on the development of the department,” Goldman said. “Under his watch, the department branched out into the areas of experimental particle physics and condensed matter physics.”
Goldman said that Hamermesh made important contributions to his field of theoretical nuclear physics. They include a greater understanding of certain techniques for determining the atomic structure of materials, as well as contributions to the design of machines called accelerators, which produce particles of high energy.
Hamermesh's wife of 62 years, Madeline, said her husband's career achievements included working with Nobel physics laureates John Van Vleck, Clifford Shull, Felix Block and Julian Schwinger.
Hamermesh wasn't just an outstanding physicist, Madeline Hamermesh said, but he was also a devoted family man, an avid student of biblical Hebrew and an accomplished chess player. He spoke Russian, as well.
The two met in New York in 1938, after one of Hamermesh's cousins organized a small party for friends and relatives.
“Let me put it this way: He couldn't get away,” she said of her husband, whom she described as a man of few words. She recalled the days when Hamermesh would ride the subway for an hour from Brooklyn to see her in the Bronx.
“He was very generous, very kind,” she said. “I was singularly fortunate.”
In addition to his wife, who lives in Minneapolis, Hamermesh is survived by a daughter, Deborah White of Ukiah, Calif.; sons Daniel of Austin, Texas, and Lawrence of Wilmington, Del.; six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
A funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at Temple Israel, 2324 Emerson Av. S., Minneapolis.
November 15 2003
Hamermesh 15 Nov 2003, Sat Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Newspapers.com
Hamermesh Morton, age 87, died November 14. Survived by wife, Madeline; son, Daniel S. and his wife, Frances; daughter, Deborah White; son, Lawrence A. and his wife, Marion; six grandchildren, David and Matthew Hamermesh, Siggi and Ollie White, Simon and Naomi Hamermesh, and seven great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Sammy, Miriam, Leila, Yonah, Julian and Noah. He was a distinguished physicist and served for ten years as Head of the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota. He translated many Russian physics books and articles, and was also a skilled and enthusiastic chess player. No flowers, please, but contributions to your favorite charity will be appreciated. Funeral Services at Temple Israel, Emerson and 24th Street, on Sunday morning, November 16, at 10:30 AM. A Celebration of Life will be announced later. For details, please phone Bobby Eich, secretary of the physics department, at 612-624-6366.
