In Memoriam : Martin Frey : 1940-2000 Autor(en): Engi, Martin / Schmidt, Susanne Th. / Capitani, Christian de Objekttyp: Obituary Zeitschrift: Schweizerische mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen = Bulletin suisse de minéralogie et pétrographie Band (Jahr): 80 (2000) Heft 3 PDF erstellt am: 30.09.2021 Nutzungsbedingungen Die ETH-Bibliothek ist Anbieterin der digitalisierten Zeitschriften. Sie besitzt keine Urheberrechte an den Inhalten der Zeitschriften. Die Rechte liegen in der Regel bei den Herausgebern. Die auf der Plattform e-periodica veröffentlichten Dokumente stehen für nicht-kommerzielle Zwecke in Lehre und Forschung sowie für die private Nutzung frei zur Verfügung. Einzelne Dateien oder Ausdrucke aus diesem Angebot können zusammen mit diesen Nutzungsbedingungen und den korrekten Herkunftsbezeichnungen weitergegeben werden. Das Veröffentlichen von Bildern in Print- und Online-Publikationen ist nur mit vorheriger Genehmigung der Rechteinhaber erlaubt. 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One fatal step on a hike in his beloved with careful interpretation of fundamental Grison Alps tore him out of his life, a life he had and data, he aimed to identify and these. His goal generously dedicated to science and to his family. metamorphic processes to quantify and what Martin leaves behind his wife, their son and to understand metamorphic rocks they evolution of mountain daughter, both adults. Numerous friends and can tell us about the orogenic His classical students mourn Martin's untimely passing, as do belts became a life-long passion. that of his colleagues at the University of Basel training never allowed him to ignore many done the and around the world. penological studies have most impact if on Hence he set out to Born on July 10,1940 in Trubschachen, Martin basis of systematic field work. outside and them, time and Frey spent his childhood in this small town perfect his skills to apply Bern, Switzerland. Following his gymnasium again. Sciences In 1972, Martin Frey spent a year as a postdoc years in Burgdorf, he went to study Earth Orville at Yale University, at the University of Bern. There he specialized in with Professor Philip M. charismatic teacher. Martin mineralogy and petrology, and he earned his an exceptional and convinced that the rock doctoral degree in 1968 with his dissertation entitled became ever more "Die Metamorphose des Keupers vom Tafeljura record can be and should be deciphered quantitatively phase bis zum Lukmanier-Gebiet". This study, guided by by thermodynamic analysis of Professor Ernst Niggli, remains a classic both in relations. On a personal side, the New England experience bond North America metamorphic petrology and Alpine geology. In initiated a life-long to Yale broadened his his thesis, Martin Frey revealed for a first time his for Martin Frey. Scientifically, and talent and dedication to making small steps in horizon and made him aware of how open 352 international science can and should be. In the genesis to epizone, was introduced by Martin Frey course of his career, this led him to develop and (1969). Beyond the classical studies he undertook maintain contacts with a very large number of in external parts of the Alps, he also contributed colleagues, many of whom he collaborated with. His to the understanding of low-grade metamorphism publication list eventually encompassed some in the Camero Basin (NE Spain), the western one hundred scientists as co-authors! Carpathians (Slovakia), the Diablo Range (California), After returning to Switzerland. Martin Frey in New Caledonia, Chile, and the MacKenzie spent a further three years at the University of Bern, district (Canada). Furthermore, of the three before Full Mineralogy textbooks being appointed Professor of to which Martin Frey contributed very and Petrology at the University of Basel in substantially, two concern exclusively low-grade 1976. He was then 36 years old, one of the youngest metamorphism. members of the Faculty of Natural Sciences; The third of them, written jointly with Kurt he would serve the Faculty as Dean in 1990-91. Bucher, is a completely revised version of For the next 24 years of Martin Frey's life he Winkler's classic "Petrogenesis of Metamorphic directed "his" Institute at the Bernoullianum. He Rocks". Martin Frey had a broad interest in the managed institute with the clear aim to metamorphic rocks and in the processes that shape perform excellent science. His leadership was characterized them. His life-long love of the Central Alps and by competence and fairness. A typical staff his excellent knowledge of the geological literature meeting started with everybody except Martin on them lead Martin Frey to direct much expressing opinions on the different topics of the attention also to areas of higher metamorphic agenda. He would rarely make an important decision grade. Important contributions on several critical right away, but continue to analyze the tectonic units, notably the Adula and Monte Rosa problem for days, sometimes discussing it further nappes, resulted from his own research as well as with some colleagues, assistants or students. Striving the 23 doctoral theses and many diploma projects for an optimal solution to a problem, he would he supervised. The wide spectrum of studies he become very quiet and reserved during such directed in the Alps and his close collaboration periods, and it was obvious that - while he with many colleagues furthered his interest in the enjoyed the responsibility - he suffered under its relevance of regional metamorphism in this heavy burden. polymetamorphic orogen and other complex Martin Frey took all of his responsibilities very belts. He was a driving force in the monumental seriously, with his foremost dedication going to effort of compiling and publishing the new "him teaching and research. His students found in metamorphic map of the Alps (Frey, Desmons an absolutely fair, deeply sincere personality, with and Neubauer, 1999), and since 1997 he also an unusual openness to accept new scientific facts served as president of the UNESCO Subcommission and revise long-held views. He left his doctoral for the Metamorphic Maps of the World. students ample room to formulate and pursue To the scientific community, Martin Frey gave their scientific goals; he led them principally by profusely of his experience and time; he served on example. uncounted committees. Among the long-term Together with his family he returned to time intensive responsibilities Martin Frey North America for sabbatical leaves at Carleton accepted was his service (1987-96) as Scientific University, Ottawa (in 1981) and at Stanford Advisor to the Swiss National Science Foundation, University (in 1989-90 and 1997). Scientifically, these the granting agency supporting the majority visits invariably served as a source of new direction of academic research in Switzerland. In this role, for Martin Frey's research. In the course of Martin's sound scientific judgment and broad the years, the domain of low-grade metamor- perspective, paired with fairness and sincerity phism - already a central topic in his doctoral made him an impartial and widely accepted leading thesis - remained the pet subject of his scientific figure, despite - or because of - his personal curiosity and work. He pioneered this field, both modesty. individually and as an active member of the In the Swiss Society of Mineralogy and Petrology, International Geological Correlation Program Martin Frey acted as Council Member (project 294 "Low-grade metamorphism") initiated (1981-1998) and served as President 1989-91. He in Budapest in 1989. Martin evidently enjoyed organized several of the Society's meetings and and profited from these IGCP meetings, leading field trips, many of which attracted international him to study many of the now classical terrains in participation. For the Swiss Bulletin of Mineralogy which the incipient stages of metamorphism and Petrology he was on the Editorial were being investigated. The term "anchizone", Board since its inception in 1989 and took on the incidentally, describing the transition from dia- responsibility of Co-Editor in 1998. 353 of and While his early professional career, he Frey, M. (1974): Alpine metamorphism pelitic during rocks of the Central Alps. Schweiz. Mineral. concerned with excellence in marly was primarily Petrogr. Mitt. 54,489-506. science, he realized over the years that human qualities Frey, M., Hunziker, J.C., Frank, W„ Bocquet, J., Dal also count in the professional environment. Piaz, G.V., Jäger, E. and Niggli, E. (1974): Alpine of the A review. Schweiz. Thus we knew and appreciated him as an open- metamorphism Alps - Mineral. Petrogr. Mitt. 54,247-290. He a man minded and tolerant person. never was Frey.M. and Wieland. B. (1975): Chloritoid in autoch- of many words, but what he said counted. His thon-parautochthonen Sedimenten des Aarmassivs. unassuming way was not just charming, it was Schweiz. Mineral. Petrogr. Mitt. 55,407-418. J.C., J.R. and Schwander, convincing. Frey, M„ Hunziker. O'Neil, H. Equilibrium-disequilibrium relations in science lost a (1976): In Martin Frey, the community of the Monte Rosa granite, Western Alps: Petrological, highly respected researcher and an integrating Rb-Sr and stable isotope data. Contrib. Mineral. authority. What remains is his extensive published Petrol.