Elihu A. Boldt, 77, a NASA astrophysicist who helped launch Goddard Space Flight Center's program in X-ray astronomy, died Sept. 12 at Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham after an apparent heart attack.

He was a Greenbelt resident and an adjunct physics professor at the University of Maryland. He was a fellow of the American Physical Society, among other professional affiliations, and served on scientific panels and committees.

For the full obituary:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/18/AR2008091803604.html

Prof. Richard E. Prange, a superb condensed matter theorist and great friend to many of us, died suddenly on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 24, of an apparent heart attack. This is a great loss to our community, where Prof. Prange spent virtually his whole professorial career; he joined the department in 1961.

On September 23--his 76th birthday--he attended the physics colloquium; afterward he and Sankar Das Sarma had a vigorous discussion about that day's topic, the physics of graphene. Richard was his usual incisive self.

On Wednesday morning, he left Washington to drive to Philadelphia where his wife, Prof. Madeleine Joullié, is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. They maintained homes in both cities. En route, he stopped for an errand at a store in suburban Philadelphia. While at the store, he collapsed, and efforts to revive him were not successful.

Richard Prange loved the Department of Physics passionately, and was instrumental in its growth and strength during the past five decades. His cross-disciplinary intellectual breadth was a key to UMD physics becoming a top department in all areas of physics. His generosity and unfailing support were inspiring.

The Department hosted a memorial Tuesday, November 18, at 3:00p.m. in the West Chapel.

For more information please contact Anne Suplee at 301-405-5944 or .

Condolences may be sent to Dr. M.Joullié, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6323 or .

Plans are being formulated for a lasting tribute in Richard's memory, perhaps a fellowship or scholarship or some other means to support the department that he loved (and its students). Donations may be sent to the Physics Department, with checks made out to the University of Maryland College Park Foundation and designated for the “Department of Physics/in memory of Dr. Richard Prange". For inquiries, please contact the chair's office, 301-405-5946 or .

Roald Sagdeev, Distinguished University Professor, has been elected a member of the American Philosophical Society. Election to the Society honors extraordinary accomplishments in all fields. Founded in 1745 by Benjamin Franklin, the APS has played an important role in American cultural and intellectual life for over 250 years.

Physics Students: Learn About the Adventures of Engineers Without Borders!

The University of Maryland student chapter of Engineers without Borders invites you to its first meeting of the academic year on Monday, September 15 at 5:30 pm in EGR1202 in Martin Hall. The students will show off what they accomplished last year -- two projects completed in Burkina Faso, and one in Brazil -- and what they have planned for the upcoming year. Join the students and be infected by their excitement. Click to read about and see the accomplishments in Burkina Faso!

Professor Ted Jacobson will give his Distinguished Scholar-Teacher Lecture,Black Holes and Warped Spacetime, on Tuesday, October 28, 2008. The Distinguished Scholar Program, established in 1978, honors a small number of faculty members each year who have demonstrated notable success in both scholarship and teaching. By honoring the Distinguished Scholar-Teacher with this prestigious award, we reaffirm our commitment to excellence in teaching and scholarship.

"Black Holes and Warped Spacetime"
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
1412 Physics Building