In Memory

Dr. Mark Gurevitch

February 16, 2006

Former Professor and Department Chair

Gurevitch received his doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley before teaching at the University of Idaho at Moscow. He moved to Portland State in 1958 and retired twice from the department. His first retirement in the 1980s, was brought about by the University's finanicial crisis. Gurevitch came back to serve as a part time department chair until his second retirement in 1991.

Gurevitch's research included papers on sub-micron metal particles in iron and on the principles, development and use of high altitude precipitation gauges.

Gurevitch was a strong advocate for biophysics in the department, and proposed in the late 1960s a doctorate program in the field. This eventually led to the hiring of Kwan Hsu as the first biophysics professor at Portland State University.

Gurevitch was also instrumental in the creation of the first endowed chair in physics in the state of Oregon. The position is named after Gertrude Rempfer.

Dr. Laird Brodie

July 31, 2009

Former Professor

Laird was born Aug. 30, 1922, in Portland to Drs. Francis Walter Brodie and Jessie Laird Brodie. He attended Laurelhurst Grade School and Grant High School. He received a bachelor's degree from Reed College in 1944, a master's degree from University of Chicago in 1949 and was awarded a doctorate in physics from Northwestern University in 1954. In 1943 he was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Forces and was sent to study meteorology at University of Washington, University of Chicago, Harvard and MIT. Laird was a teaching/research professor of physics at Portland State University from 1956 to 1987. As a professor, he would often employ examples from solar energy to illustrate physics concepts to his classes and in his later career he enjoyed teaching courses in the physics of music and photography. At Portland State he researched heat transfer in cryogenic liquids. In addition to physics, he enjoyed music and outdoor pursuits like hiking, backpacking and sea kayaking. He always went hiking equipped with a large chocolate bar to share. He played the French horn in the Portland Junior Symphony from 1937 to 1943. He also played in the Portland Opera Orchestra and the Marylhurst College Orchestra for many years. He was active in the hiking group of First Unitarian Church, where Laird met his second wife, Mary Ella Carson. They married in 1974. Laird and Mary regularly attended the Oregon Symphony, the Portland Chamber Music at Reed College, and hiked with the Friends of the Columbia Gorge and the Mazamas.

Dr. Makoto Takeo:

May 23, 2010

Former Professor

Diploma 1943 Tohoku University (Japan); M.S. 1951, Ph.D. 1953 University of Oregon.  Interests: theoretical atomic physics, surface physics and gas kinetics by optical methods, gas dynamics, lattice dynamics.

Dr. Rudi Nussbaum:

July 26, 2011

Former Professor

B.S. 1951, Ph.D. 1954 University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands).
Interests: radiation protection standards, epidemiological studies on cancer induction at low doses of ionizing radiation. An avowed pacifist, both Rudi and his wife were survivors of the
Holocaust<http://www.davenportschools.org/young/what%27s%20happenin%27%2004-05/holocaust_speakers.05.htm>. His work as a Professor Emeritus of Physics and Environmental Science at
Portland State University <http://www.pdx.edu/physics/rudi-h-nussbaum> was instrumental in raising alarm over the health effects of radiation exposure.  He wrote numerous papers on this subject and participated in gathering valuable information on workers and civilians that were exposed to radiation at Hanford <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra3bzvfSJ4s> and in surrounding communities, for which he became a vocal advocate for environmental justice.

Dr. Gertrude Rempfer: 

October 4, 2011

Gertrude Rempfer, professor emerita of physics and environmental science, died Oct. 4th. She was 99 years old. Dr. Rempfer, who retired in 1977, continued to conduct cutting-edge research in photoelectron microscopy in her PSU lab as recent as three weeks before her death. During her retirement years, she published, received grants, submitted patents, mentored graduate students, and won awards for her contributions to science. Her last PhD student graduated in 2009. An endowed chair in physics, the first such chair at PSU, was established in her name in 1997. Dr. Rempfer's husband, Robert Rempfer, a professor emeritus of Mathematical Sciences, preceded her in death.