Letter from Combustion Institute - organization that Jack was very actively involved

The Combustion Institute
5001 Baum Boulevard, Suite 635
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213-1851 USA
Telephone: (412)687-1366 Fax: (412)687-0340
Email: office@combustioninstitute.org
July 13th, 2008
Carolyn Howard
24 Central St
Winchester, MA 01890-2630
USA

Jack B. Howard – In Memoriam

With the passing of Jack Howard, the Combustion institute has lost one of its greats. Jack gave us so much by way of original research, teaching, and service to our community

Jack’s work in coal and other carbons, ranging from soot to fullerene, stands out for its breadth and depth. He provided insights into the processing of coal to produce gases and liquids that were at the forefront in the 1970’s and 1980’s and still today have special significance as the world grapples with the problem of energy supply, in which coal will continue to play a major role. Similarly, his work on active sites in carbon reactions set the scene for much of the work that has followed. His studies of fullerenes from combustion sources changed the way we thought about soot and provided the basis not only for much future work, but also for Jack’s ‘post-retirement’ business activities in nanocarbons.

Jack gave generously of his time and wise counsel to promoting the interests of the Institute and the community it represents, including being a Board Member from 1994-2006. He was accorded every scientific honour and responsibility that our Institute can bestow:

 Symposium Program Chair, 19th Symposium, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel in 1982.
 Silver Medal, at the 20th Symposium, University of Michigan (1984), for the paper with Jim Bittner entitled "Mechanisms of hydrocarbon decay in fuel-rich secondary reaction zones."
 Bernard Lewis Gold Medal, at the 24th Symposium, University of Sydney "for the kinetics of soot formation and coal pyrolysis".
 Symposium plenary lecture: 23rd Symposium, University of Orléans, France (1992) "Carbon additions and oxidation reactions in heterogeneous combustion and soot formation".
At a personal level, I interacted with Jack when I was at MIT from 1979 to 1981. Our research fields overlapped in part and, while we I did not work directly together, I learned first-hand of his unfailingly gentlemanly nature and scholarly disposition. The hospitality you and Jack showed me and my wife at a time when we were starting our own family has never been forgotten.

The Combustion Institute salutes the life and work of Jack Howard. His contributions were immense and the legacy of his work will endure for many years.

Our thoughts and best wishes are with you and your family at this time.
Brian S. Haynes
President