Philosophy
Martin A. Pomerantz
December 17th, 1916 to October 26th, 2008
American Institute of Physics
"Explorer, physicist advanced study of the sun"
by
Rob Rogers
November 14th, 2008
Marin Independent Journal
A private memorial celebration was held Friday for Martin Arthur Pomerantz of San Rafael, an astrophysicist and explorer whose travels to the South Pole revolutionized the study of the sun.
Mr. Pomerantz died of esophageal cancer Oct. 26 at his home. He was 91.
His observations of the sun during 26 trips to the South Pole - where the National Science Foundation has established an observatory in his name - helped establish the field of helioseismology, the study of pressure waves in the sun.
"His long and successful career as a cosmic ray physicist, as honorable as it was, was overshadowed by the contribution he made by realizing that the South Pole is almost better than any place on Earth for making measurements of many kinds," said Peter R. Saulson, who holds the Martin A. Pomerantz chair of physics at Syracuse University. "The ability to make uninterrupted observations of the sun (from the South Pole) allowed the measurement, for the first time, of the vibrations of the sun, leading to a new field - helioseismology - that revealed facts about the interior of the sun."
Born in Brooklyn, New York on Dec. 17, 1916, Mr. Pomerantz earned his bachelor's degree in physics from Syracuse University in 1937. He received his master's degree in physics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1938 and his doctorate from Temple University in 1951.
He joined the University of Delaware's Bartol Research Institute in 1938, serving for almost 30 years as its director and president from 1959 until 1987. He became one of the pioneers in balloon-borne cosmic ray research during the 1940s and '50s and his work with cosmic rays brought him to Antarctica in 1964.
Mr. Pomerantz quickly realized that the clear, cold air and stable atmospheric conditions of the Antarctic made it an ideal site for astronomy. His work over the next decade helped establish the importance of Antarctic observatories.
"He would be in touch with me through ham radio operators," said Mollie Pomerantz, Mr. Pomerantz's wife of 67 years. "It was always in the middle of the night, and it was always so wonderful."
After retiring in 1990, Mr. Pomerantz opened a car dealership with his son in Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Mr. Pomerantz moved to San Rafael in 2001 and was active in the Rotary Club of San Rafael.
Mr. Pomerantz's many awards and achievements include the National Science Foundation's Distinguished Public Service Award, the Prix de la Belgica and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Medal for Distinguished Scientific Achievement. He served on the board of trustees of the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and was a fellow of the American Physical Society, the American Geophysical Union and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
The Pomerantz Tableland in Antarctica's Usarp Mountains is named after him.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Martin Pomerantz, Jr. of Novato; a daughter, Jane Staw of Berkeley, and one grandchild.
NSF dedicates Martin A. Pomerantz Observatory at South Pole
Martin A. Pomerantz [Wikapedia biography]
- Weddell Seal
James Weddell August 24th, 1787 to September 9th, 1834 Some people should never take up pen and ink to draw. Bill Ashworth [University of Missouri at Kansas City professor] wrote... James Weddell, an American sealing captain, died Sep. 9. 1834, at age...
- Deceased--jerri Nielsen Fitzgerald
Jerri Nielsen FitzGerald 1957 to June 23rd, 2009 A time to be humble and attempt to fathom the psyche and suffering of the human species. "Doctor In Dramatic South Pole Rescue Dies At 57" June 24th, 2009 Associated Press Dr. Jerri Nielsen FitzGerald,...
- Deceased--martin J. Klein
Martin J. Klein June 25th, 1924 to March 28th, 2009 "Martin J. Klein, Historian of Physics, Dies at 84" by Dennis Hevesi April 2, 2009 New York Times Martin J. Klein, a historian of modern physics and the editor of a vast collection of papers that...
- Deceased--arthur D. Code
Arthur D. Code August 13th, 1923 to March 11th, 2009 "Arthur D. Code, pioneering space astronomer, dies" by Terry Devitt March 16th, 2009 University of Wisconsin--Madison News Arthur D. Code, whose lifelong love of the stars and the night sky led to...
- Deceased--yoji Totsuka
Yoji Totsuka March 6th, 1942 to July 10th, 2008 "Japanese particle-physics leader dies" by Matin Durrani July 11th, 2008 physicsworld.com Yoji Totsuka, former director general of the KEK particle-physics lab in Japan, died yesterday at the age of 66....
Philosophy
Deceased--Martin A. Pomerantz
Martin A. PomerantzDecember 17th, 1916 to October 26th, 2008
American Institute of Physics
"Explorer, physicist advanced study of the sun"
by
Rob Rogers
November 14th, 2008
Marin Independent Journal
A private memorial celebration was held Friday for Martin Arthur Pomerantz of San Rafael, an astrophysicist and explorer whose travels to the South Pole revolutionized the study of the sun.
Mr. Pomerantz died of esophageal cancer Oct. 26 at his home. He was 91.
His observations of the sun during 26 trips to the South Pole - where the National Science Foundation has established an observatory in his name - helped establish the field of helioseismology, the study of pressure waves in the sun.
"His long and successful career as a cosmic ray physicist, as honorable as it was, was overshadowed by the contribution he made by realizing that the South Pole is almost better than any place on Earth for making measurements of many kinds," said Peter R. Saulson, who holds the Martin A. Pomerantz chair of physics at Syracuse University. "The ability to make uninterrupted observations of the sun (from the South Pole) allowed the measurement, for the first time, of the vibrations of the sun, leading to a new field - helioseismology - that revealed facts about the interior of the sun."
Born in Brooklyn, New York on Dec. 17, 1916, Mr. Pomerantz earned his bachelor's degree in physics from Syracuse University in 1937. He received his master's degree in physics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1938 and his doctorate from Temple University in 1951.
He joined the University of Delaware's Bartol Research Institute in 1938, serving for almost 30 years as its director and president from 1959 until 1987. He became one of the pioneers in balloon-borne cosmic ray research during the 1940s and '50s and his work with cosmic rays brought him to Antarctica in 1964.
Mr. Pomerantz quickly realized that the clear, cold air and stable atmospheric conditions of the Antarctic made it an ideal site for astronomy. His work over the next decade helped establish the importance of Antarctic observatories.
"He would be in touch with me through ham radio operators," said Mollie Pomerantz, Mr. Pomerantz's wife of 67 years. "It was always in the middle of the night, and it was always so wonderful."
After retiring in 1990, Mr. Pomerantz opened a car dealership with his son in Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Mr. Pomerantz moved to San Rafael in 2001 and was active in the Rotary Club of San Rafael.
Mr. Pomerantz's many awards and achievements include the National Science Foundation's Distinguished Public Service Award, the Prix de la Belgica and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Medal for Distinguished Scientific Achievement. He served on the board of trustees of the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and was a fellow of the American Physical Society, the American Geophysical Union and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
The Pomerantz Tableland in Antarctica's Usarp Mountains is named after him.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Martin Pomerantz, Jr. of Novato; a daughter, Jane Staw of Berkeley, and one grandchild.
NSF dedicates Martin A. Pomerantz Observatory at South Pole
Martin A. Pomerantz [Wikapedia biography]
- Weddell Seal
James Weddell August 24th, 1787 to September 9th, 1834 Some people should never take up pen and ink to draw. Bill Ashworth [University of Missouri at Kansas City professor] wrote... James Weddell, an American sealing captain, died Sep. 9. 1834, at age...
- Deceased--jerri Nielsen Fitzgerald
Jerri Nielsen FitzGerald 1957 to June 23rd, 2009 A time to be humble and attempt to fathom the psyche and suffering of the human species. "Doctor In Dramatic South Pole Rescue Dies At 57" June 24th, 2009 Associated Press Dr. Jerri Nielsen FitzGerald,...
- Deceased--martin J. Klein
Martin J. Klein June 25th, 1924 to March 28th, 2009 "Martin J. Klein, Historian of Physics, Dies at 84" by Dennis Hevesi April 2, 2009 New York Times Martin J. Klein, a historian of modern physics and the editor of a vast collection of papers that...
- Deceased--arthur D. Code
Arthur D. Code August 13th, 1923 to March 11th, 2009 "Arthur D. Code, pioneering space astronomer, dies" by Terry Devitt March 16th, 2009 University of Wisconsin--Madison News Arthur D. Code, whose lifelong love of the stars and the night sky led to...
- Deceased--yoji Totsuka
Yoji Totsuka March 6th, 1942 to July 10th, 2008 "Japanese particle-physics leader dies" by Matin Durrani July 11th, 2008 physicsworld.com Yoji Totsuka, former director general of the KEK particle-physics lab in Japan, died yesterday at the age of 66....