the Vol. 65B - No. 27 ulletin August 5, 2011 In Memoriam: John H. Marburger III Former BNL Director John (“Jack”) H. Marburger III — a physicist who also served as President of Stony Brook Uni- versity, Science Advisor to the President, and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy — died at his home in Port Roger Stoutenburgh Jefferson, NY, on July 28, 2011, after four years of treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Under his leadership, BNL commissioned the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and D257109 advanced a range of scientific programs and industrial partner- ships, achieved ISO14001 certifi- From left, Lisa Miller, BNL, Andreana Leskovjan, Stony Brook University, cation of its environmental man- and Tony Lanzirotti, University of Chicago, whose earlier work on this agement system, and established topic was published in the October 1, 2009 edition of NeuroImage a Community Advisory Council that fostered significantly im- Brain Iron as Early Predictor proved support among neighbors and other stakeholders. Roger Stoutenburgh For Alzheimer’s Disease “Jack Marburger was an in- Research team from BNL, Stony Brook University, the quisitive thinker and a champion University of Chicago, the Illinois Institute of Technology, and of Brookhaven Lab’s research,” Argonne National Laboratory uses NSLS, APS for new findings said Sam Aronson, current BNL Director. “Throughout his long New scientific information rel- Technology; Stefan Vogt, Argonne and fascinating career, his fin- CN 6-7-98 evant to Alzheimer’s disease has National Laboratory; Lisa Miller, est qualities included his ability been discovered by researchers BNL and SBU. The research was to listen and to find common using the National Synchrotron funded by National Institutes of ground among people with very Light Source (NSLS) at BNL and Health, while the NSLS and the different points of view. He led Jack was an expert in bringing people together the Advanced Photon Source APS are funded by the DOE Of- the Lab through one of the most “ (APS) at Argonne National Labo- fice of Science’s Office of Basic challenging times in its history, — even in his final weeks and days, he dedicated ratory and published in NeuroIm- Energy Sciences. restoring public trust and putting his time to enhancing the relationship between age, March 2011. This work points It has been known for some in place policies of openness, to the use of elevated brain iron time that the formation of amy- inclusion, and environmental Brookhaven and Stony Brook University through content, already observed in late- loid plaques in brain tissue is as- stewardship that still guide strategic collaborative initiatives. — Sam Aronson stage Alzheimer’s, as a potential sociated with Alzheimer’s. These us today. ” tool for early diagnosis. Since plaques may form for years before “Jack was an expert in bring- the disease is usually diagnosed the patient actually suffers neu- ing people together — even in his Background in Physics Brook, Marburger served on nu- only in later stages after cognitive rological symptoms. So, much final weeks and days, he dedicat- John Marburger was born on merous boards and committees. symptoms appear and treatment recent research has focused on ed his time to enhancing the re- Staten Island, NY, in 1941, He chaired the New York State may not be effective, a method finding a way to detect the disease lationship between Brookhaven and grew up in Maryland near Governor’s Commission on the for early detection would be a ma- in its very early stages when treat- and Stony Brook University Washington, DC. He earned a Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant jor breakthrough in fighting this ment would be most effective. through strategic collaborative bachelor’s degree in physics from and the 80-campus Universities debilitating neurological illness. One line of research has cen- initiatives. His calm, reasoned Princeton University in 1962, Research Association, which runs Highlighting the coopera- tered on the observation that the demeanor, elegance, and bright and worked for a year at Goddard Fermi National Accelerator Labo- tive efforts of BNL, Stony Brook brains of patients in late stages of smile will be missed by all.” Space Flight Center before re- ratory and operated the former University (SBU) and others, the disease showed elevated levels Mike Holland, DOE Brook- turning to school to earn a Ph.D. Superconducting Super Collider authors on the paper are: Andre- of metal ions such as iron, copper, haven Site Office Manager, in applied physics from Stanford Laboratory during the lifetime ana Leskovjan, SBU and BNL; and zinc. Measuring metal con- added, “Jack Marburger’s contri- University in 1967. of that project. He also served as Ariane Kretlow, BNL; Antonio centrations in cerebrospinal fluid butions to science and to society Marburger joined the faculty a trustee of Princeton University Lanzirotti, University of Chicago; or using magnetic resonance… were generous and profound. His of the University of Southern and a trustee or director of many Raul Barrea, Illinois Institute of See Brain Iron on p. 2 vision, leadership, and gentle California (USC) in 1966, as a other organizations. manner will be missed.” Professor of Physics and Elec- In 1994, Marburger stepped Peter Bond, Special Advisor to trical Engineering, eventually down from the presidency, the Director and former Interim becoming Chair of the Physics becoming a member of Stony Brookhaven Lab Director, said, Department and then Dean of Brook’s faculty and resuming “Jack was the right person at the the College of Letters, Arts and research in optical science as a right time at BNL. He came at a Sciences. professor in Stony Brook’s de- time when trust between BNL While at USC, he contrib- partments of Physics and Electri- and the community was lack- uted as a theoretical physicist cal Engineering. ing. He was a master at listening, to the rapidly growing fields of Challenges at Brookhaven Roger Stoutenburgh interacting, and responding to nonlinear optics and quantum the community and is largely optics, subjects transformed by In January 1998, Marburger was responsible for greatly improv- the invention of the laser in named the first president of ing the relationship with our 1960. He was a co-founder of Brookhaven Science Associates neighbors. Many of us remem- the university’s Center for Laser (BSA), which made a successful ber him as a gentle man and Studies, a consultant at Lawrence bid to manage BNL for DOE, a gentleman.” D0040711 Livermore Laboratory on high replacing Associated Universi- Peter Paul of Stony Brook Uni- power laser phenomena, and a ties, Inc. Two months later, he versity, former BNL Deputy Di- frequent public speaker on sci- became the Laboratory’s first Steven Cannella, BNL’s project manager for the proposed renovations, holds rector for Science & Technology ence, hosting a series of educa- director under BSA. an architectural rendering of the seminar room in the physics building. and BNL Interim Director, agreed tional programs called “Frontiers As Brookhaven’s Director, that Jack Marburger was the right of Electronics” on CBS television. Marburger was faced with the BNL Awards $33 Million Contract man at the right time at BNL. challenge of restoring the local “I remember well when Jack Growth at Stony Brook community’s trust in the Labora- For Lab and Office Renovations joined the BSA team as desig- In 1980, at age 39, Marburger tory after legacy environmental BNL has chosen U.W. Marx Con- “We are honored to have been nated director,” said Paul. “His came to Long Island to become problems, including a long-term struction Company of Troy, New selected as the contractor for this inimical style of optimistic lead- the third President of Stony small leak of tritium from the York, to renovate approximately project at Brookhaven Lab,” said ership, addressing a small group Brook University. During his Lab’s now closed High Flux Beam 89,000 square feet of laborato- U.W. Marx Construction Com- or a crowd with enthusiasm and tenure, the university’s feder- Reactor, came to the fore. He ries, offices, and support space pany President Peter B. Marx. conviction (typically standing ally sponsored scientific research played a significant role in the within two large buildings on the “Through U.W. Marx’s six-decade up while buttoning his jacket) grew to exceed that of all other Lab’s environmental restoration, 5,300-acre campus: the chemistry history, we have continually served BNL well in rebuilding public universities in the north- and he successfully rebuilt the building and the physics build- strived to provide the very best its relations with Long Island eastern U.S. The University Hos- Lab’s reputation as a responsible ing. The renovation project, for in construction services available and with DOE. All of us who pital opened during this time, environmental steward. Under which U.W. Marx will be paid anywhere. We look forward to a knew him and worked with and biological sciences became a his leadership, nine internal $33 million, is expected to begin successful project and new friend- him are deeply sorrowed by major strength of the university. Laboratory organizations… construction by October 1, 2011. ships.” See Contract on p. 2 his untimely passing.” During his presidency at Stony See Marburger on p. 2 The Bulletin August 5, 2011 Brain Iron from p. 1 …imaging would be an attrac- In Memoriam: John H. Marburger III (1941–2011) tive technique for early diag- Marburger from p. 1 worked to preserve independence health reasons on July 1, 2011. nosis because it is noninvasive. …achieved ISO 14001 registra- in Internet governance, freeing The author of numerous Until recently, however, not tion, an internationally recog- up large blocks of the broadcast papers in the area of non-linear much was known about how nized standard of excellence in spectrum for commercial wire- optics and quantum electrody- metal ions were distributed in environmental management.