[SPA] SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER, Volume XXV, Issue 20

[Newsletter Editor]

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER
Volume XXV, Issue 20
Apr.02,2018

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Table of Contents

1. Memorial for Chuck Goodrich

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Announcement Submission Website: http://goo.gl/forms/qjcm4dDr4g


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Memorial for Chuck Goodrich

From: Mona Kessel (mona.kessel at nasa.gov) and Michael Wiltberger (mwiltber at nsf.gov)

It is with great sadness that we relate the recent passing of Charles (Chuck) Goodrich. His science accomplishments and personal interactions and influence will continue to affect the science community for many years to come.

Chuck was educated at M.I.T. and received both his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from there, in 1972 and 1978, respectively. He continued at M.I.T. as a post-doc for two years before moving to the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1980. He was at UMCP for twenty-two years, first as a Research Associate in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Later he became the Director of the Advanced Visualization Laboratory, a position he held concomitantly with Senior Research Scientist. In 2002, he moved to Boston University and became the Deputy Director of the Center for Integrated Space Weather (CISM), and two years later, the Co-Director of CISM. In 2008, Chuck came to NASA HQ under an Intergovernmental Personnel Act agreement, working first with the Geospace Group, and then later with Living With a Star (LWS). Chuck retired from BU in 2013.

Chuck’s early research focused on the basic plasma physics process involved in shocks.  He made important discoveries about the energization of electrons in collisionless shocks and contributed to the development of techniques for simulating shocks in plasmas.  Chuck was deeply interested in the visualization of the scientific data and he was the founding director the Advanced Visualization Lab at the University of Maryland.  As part of the ISTP theory program Chuck worked on the development of MHD simulations of the magnetosphere and the visualization of the results.  Chuck combined his interests in visualization and global MHD modeling with a movie visualization of a simulation of a geomagnetic storm that demonstrated to the community both the extremely dynamic nature of the magnetosphere and the usefulness of global simulations.  As part of the Center for Integrated Space Weather Modeling, Chuck worked on the development of a framework for coupling disparate space physics models into an integrated, Sun to Earth model.  Throughout his career he worked closely with numerous graduate students and post-doctoral researchers, providing them with invaluable guidance on research and life.

Chuck brought more to his science colleagues and students, then just his science insights, mentoring, and accomplishments. He loved science, but he also loved music and good food. In addition to his memorial (details below), we want to share a few remembrances from the science community.

Slava Merkin from Applied Physics Lab has the following personal remembrance that many who knew Chuck will appreciate and agree with. “Chuck was a big part of my “growing up” in the US, first as a grad student in UMD and then in Boston. He was the first person I actually worked for when I came to Dennis Papadopolous’ group. I always appreciated his honesty. He ruffled feathers right and left because he’d say what he thought at the moment, but he was a good person and an honest scientist. I will always remember him that way.”

Ramon Lopez from University of Texas at Arlington has a similar remembrance. “I first met Chuck in Prague in the summer of 1985 having just defended my dissertation and attending my first international conference.  Chuck, with characteristic generosity, took me under his wing. At that time, Prague was still under socialist rule, and decent food was hard to come by.  But Chuck had obtained the secret restaurant list from the US embassy!  So began one of the best friendships in my life.  Chuck loved good food and drink, and he had a particular love of Jazz and Blues.  But it was his generous spirit that I most appreciated, a spirit that extended well beyond his friends.  On more than one occasion I have seen him go out of his way to render a kindness for those he did not know because a friend asked.  He also had a sharp intellect and wit that expressed itself not only in his science but in his everyday dealings with friends, colleagues and students.  He called it as he saw it, and I loved that about him.”

At NASA HQ Chuck brought more than just his science expertise and sense of fairness, during his tenure from 2008 to 2012. He discovered that a small café a block from HQ had fresh steamed dumplings every Thursday and he got most of us in Heliophysics to try them. He established this as a tradition for lunch on Thursdays, that we still adhere to whenever possible. Chuck also introduced us to local music, that we enjoyed with him on multiple occasions.

Lika Guhathakurta adds the following. “I will always remember Chuck as a big man…big in generosity and intellect. Chuck came to work with me in the LWS TR&T program around 2009-2010. He played an important role in shepherding the program and a major role in crafting the NASA-NSF Partnership for Collaborative Space Weather Modeling. But most importantly, Chuck and I both shared a love for dancing and music, and he introduced me to many local places. I will always carry those precious memories.”

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The family have made the following arrangements for Chuck’s memorial. On Sunday April 22, there will be a gathering at Jv’s restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042, http://jvsrestaurant.com/index.php). From 12 to 1 PM, family and friends are welcome to say a few words or share a few stories about Chuck. From 1 to 4 PM there will be music from a few local bands that Chuck patronized and with whom he frequently socialized. This gathering will be a celebration of life, according to his wishes. 

Members of the science community are welcome to attend either or both parts of the memorial. If you plan to attend only the first hour, please arrive on time and stay as long as would be minimally disruptive. 

Anyone unable to attend the memorial or wishing to honor him in another way, can make a donation to an MIT student aid fund in his name ( https://giving.mit.edu/explore/student-aid ). Chuck loved science passionately and so a fund dedicated to enabling people to pursue a career in science is most appropriate. 

Anyone having questions about logistics may contact Chuck’s daughter, Katy Goodrich, at kath.goodrich at gmail.com.


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