[SPA] SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER, Volume XXVIII, Issue 11

[Newsletter Editor]

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER
Volume XXVIII, Issue 11
Feb.27,2021

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Table of Contents

1. The Passing of John Hoffman

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


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The Passing of John Hoffman

From: Phillip Anderson (phillip.anderson1 at utdallas.edu)

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. John Hoffman at the age of 91. John was a wonderful colleague, mentor, and scientist who contributed tremendously to the field of space research and education. He was always willing to give of his time and expertise and quick to adopt technical problems and contribute in national and international collaborations. He will be sorely missed. 

John received his bachelor's degree from St. Mary's College in Winona, Minnesota and continued his education at the University of Minnesota under the mentorship of Professor A. O. C. Nier who pioneered the field of mass spectroscopy. His PhD dissertation was on the helium isotopic distribution in large iron meteorites.

He spent 7 years at the U. S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D. C., developing miniaturized mass spectrometers for space flight. Dr. Hoffman joined the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest in 1966, which later became the University of Texas at Dallas. His main interest was in the study of atmospheric/ionospheric composition and isotopic ratios for which he designed and built instrument packages that have flown on numerous rockets and satellites. He developed instruments for the Apollos 15, 16, and 17 lunar missions, the latter being part of the ALSEP surface package. In 1978, his instrument flew on the Pioneer Venus mission to Venus where data was received throughout the descent of the probe to the surface. A surprise discovery was that there is a two order of magnitude difference in the isotopic ratios for hydrogen and argon than for those gases on earth. These isotopic ratio differences have had large implications on models of the nature of the solar nebula and the formation of the present (secondary) atmospheres of the terrestrial planets.

John was a member of the team who flew a mass spectrometer on the European Space Agency's Giotto mission to Halley's Comet in 1986. It measured both the neutral and ionized constituents of the comet's coma. He was a co-investigator for the TEGA experiment that flew on the Mars Scout Phoenix mission in 2007. The spacecraft landed in the far northern region of Mars, above the arctic circle in the area where the Mars Odyssey spacecraft had found evidence for water and conclusively demonstrated the presence of subsurface water on Mars.

John also flew mass spectrometers on the earth orbiting satellites, Explorer 31, ISIS-II, AE-C, D, and E, and Wake Shield, plus numerous sounding rockets and stratospheric balloon flights. The first observations of the polar wind, ions flowing out from the atmosphere, were made by his ion mass spectrometer flown on the ISIS spacecraft in 1971.

John loved to teach and communicate his love of science through numerous motivational talks about his research work as well as his explanations of fundamental physical processes illustrated with lively demonstrations, both in class and in numerous community outreach projects. Unselfish engagement with his peers and students alike is the reason that John became so successfully immersed in the growth of the University from its original days. As Physics department head, John led the UTD Physics department for 24 years when the number of faculty and students was quite small and continued to manage the many issues that arose as the University and department experienced exponential growth.  

In lieu of flowers, a scholarship at UTD has been created in honor of John. Donations may be made online at giving.utdallas.edu/hoffman and/or by mail to the address listed below. Please making sure gifts are listed as "In Memory of Dr. John Hoffman". 

Attention: Gifts 
Office of Development & Alumni Relations 
University of Texas at Dallas 
800 West Campbell Road, SPN 10
Richardson, TX 75080 

Memorial and funeral arrangements: 

Friday, March 12th 
Visitation - 5pm - 6:30pm 
Remarks and Rosary - 6:30pm 
St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church (In the Community Center)
720 S Floyd Rd, Richardson, TX 75080 

Saturday, March 13th 
Funeral Mass - 11:30am 
St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church (In the church) 
A reception following the Mass (Place TBD) 


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