This letter is from Professor Hottel's daughter. Prof. Hottel mentored and worked with Jack for many years. They co-authored a book together named New Energy Technology. It is a "go to" book in solving our current energy problems. Jack held the Hoyt Hottel Chair in the Chemical Engineering Department for several years prior to his MIT retirement.
The Letter:
Dear Jack and Carolyn,The world of MIT has not heard much from me since my dad's death in 1998 -- almost 10 years ago. But -- you are all still and forever in my hearts. I grew up in Dept 10, first in Bldg 2 (!) and then Bldg 12 – and the memories are legion. I got to the age where I ogled the grad students and even the young faculty – shameless wench – and Hoyt’s daughter to boot! I made huge numbers of good friends, some of whom I still contact. I think just about everyone at my wedding was from that world – I loved you all well, and have nothing but precious memories of my life at Tech. I visited a lot in the wondrous new Bldg 66 -- Daddy was SO proud of the way they wedged that in! -- but by that time I was ensconced in my own busy life. Four children and ten grandchildren – keeps me busy
!And the carpools! Living where the Hottels did – last stop! -- anyone in the family riding to MIT had quite an experience with the carpool crowd. Who else ever knew that route through all those back corners of Medford and Somerville and Cambridge? – none of which is even recognizable today! I was very very young -- a teen -- when I had my first job at Tech, and I so well remember those mornings in the car with you and Fritz and I can't remember who else -- cars weren't so big then, so maybe there were only four of us.
For 20 years, I worked as the director of communications (fancy title for editor) at Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering. I looked down my nose when I was first there -- MIT snob -- who ever heard of Thayer School? -- and left a long time later with a huge respect for that tiny school which did a good job of educating young engineers and some impressive research as well -- at a college I had also disdained, but now admire. John Kemeny, the mathematician from Princeton who became Dartmouth's president around 1970 turned the school around, and its academic standards are now high. Daddy never accepted that -- he had his opinion of Dartmouth and that was that! He grudgingly allowed that maybe I did a good job, but just barely -- and he was sure he could have done it better! What a great dad I had!
Just as I was retiring in 2004, a new dean arrived at Thayer School -- and it was Joe Helble! Needless to say, it didn't take long for us to get together -- Adel kept the secret from me, so I had no idea that Joe had any direct connection to any part of my life, but of course, he did. And, sadly, it was he who told me last week about your illness.Jack, I am so sorry. What a nightmare for you all.
I lost my husband, Myric, to cancer in June 2006, after 45 wonderful years in family medicine here in Lebanon, NH -- and I know how hard it is, not only for you but for Carolyn. Both of your lives are suddenly turned around, and the challenges are huge. For you, to suddenly have to focus on yourself and your physical well-being when I'm sure they were of little concern to you during your very busy life in teaching and research -- it must be awful.
I'm so sad to think of you being so ill – I hope the treatments are tolerable and have the best possible measure of success. I have such good memories of you and Carolyn at 27 Cambridge Street – my daughter Sarah lives in Arlington now, so I go by our old house frequently. And if you still live on Everett Avenue (is that an accurate memory? at 76, many are not!!), I guess I go by your house as well!My heart and prayers are with you both – and I wish you both the best that can come to you ---With my love
,Lois Hottel Wood
Monday, November 5, 2007
Professor Bill Green comments
Dear Jack,
Amanda and I have been following your progress on your blog; we are inspired by your resilience and are cherishing you in our thoughts and prayers.
I feel extremely lucky, both to have caught your eye when I first applied to work at MIT,and then to have had you as a mentor and collaborator as I started out as an assistant professor. After a long week dealing with the stresses that come with that job, it was such a relief to spend a few minutes in unhurried conversation with you, to feel your calm and thoughtful influence. And it was very reassuring to see in front of me someone who had dealt with the same stresses I was facing, both at work and at home, and had found a way to maintain a balance and a focus on what was really important. So I am very grateful for the moments I have been able to spend with you and for the example you set me.
I hope that, as you did for me, I may some day be able to help some new asst. prof. find his bearings.
If I may, I would like to stop by to visit. When would be a good time?
Peace and Love,
Bill
Prof. William H. Green
MIT Dept. of Chemical Engineering
(617)253-4580 Room 66-270
Amanda and I have been following your progress on your blog; we are inspired by your resilience and are cherishing you in our thoughts and prayers.
I feel extremely lucky, both to have caught your eye when I first applied to work at MIT,and then to have had you as a mentor and collaborator as I started out as an assistant professor. After a long week dealing with the stresses that come with that job, it was such a relief to spend a few minutes in unhurried conversation with you, to feel your calm and thoughtful influence. And it was very reassuring to see in front of me someone who had dealt with the same stresses I was facing, both at work and at home, and had found a way to maintain a balance and a focus on what was really important. So I am very grateful for the moments I have been able to spend with you and for the example you set me.
I hope that, as you did for me, I may some day be able to help some new asst. prof. find his bearings.
If I may, I would like to stop by to visit. When would be a good time?
Peace and Love,
Bill
Prof. William H. Green
MIT Dept. of Chemical Engineering
(617)253-4580 Room 66-270
A poem from a friend
There is a brokenness
Out of which comes the unbroken
a shatteredness
Out of which blooms the unshatterable.
There is sorrow beyond all grief which leads to joy
and a fragility out of whose depth emerges strength.
There is a hollow space too vast for words
Through which we pass with each loss,
out of whose darkness we are sanctioned into being.
There is a cry deeper than all sound
Whose serrated edges cut the heart as we break open to the place inside
Which is unbreakable and whole,
while learning to sing.
A friend of mine sent me this beautiful poem. My thougths while reading this poem was to dwell on how our Lord heals the broken, becomes the light in our lives, and supplies all of our needs. Thanks be to Him, who alone is worthy to be praised. Let us all sing our praises to our Lord and our God.
Out of which comes the unbroken
a shatteredness
Out of which blooms the unshatterable.
There is sorrow beyond all grief which leads to joy
and a fragility out of whose depth emerges strength.
There is a hollow space too vast for words
Through which we pass with each loss,
out of whose darkness we are sanctioned into being.
There is a cry deeper than all sound
Whose serrated edges cut the heart as we break open to the place inside
Which is unbreakable and whole,
while learning to sing.
A friend of mine sent me this beautiful poem. My thougths while reading this poem was to dwell on how our Lord heals the broken, becomes the light in our lives, and supplies all of our needs. Thanks be to Him, who alone is worthy to be praised. Let us all sing our praises to our Lord and our God.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Hello from Serakorn Gerjarusak, PhD 1993
Dear Professor Howard and Carolyn,
First, a big thank you to Phillip Westmoreland for informing me (and other former students) of Professor Howard's illness.
Since I left MIT in 1993, I have not been in touch with Jack Howard and Bill Peters, my thesis advisors. I returned to Bangkok, Thailand, with the intention to join Esso's refinery (known as Exxon in USA). However, I was recruited by a course X alumnus, Chartsiri Sophonpanich, whose family was a big shareholder of Bangkok Bank (he is currently the bank's President). I worked at Bangkok Bank for a year as a foreign exchange trader. I then decided to put engineering on hold and took a plunge into investment banking. I travelled to Hong Kong in the summer of 1994 and have lived here ever since. I worked for Merrill Lynch, Barclays, Lehman Brothers, and HSBC. I am currently with Goldman Sachs, working as Managing Director and head of macro structuring for non-Japan Asia.
In case you are wondering what exactly is my job, I will try to explain it the best I can. I work for the largest securities firm in the world. Goldman Sachs is kinda like MIT of investment banking! Everyone in an investment bank aspire to be a manging director. About 6% of the employee at Goldman Sachs are managing directors (although there are different levels of seniority, Lloyd Blankfein, CEO of Golmand Sach is also a Managing Director, but at least 10 levels above me). I am in charge of coming up with trade ideas in foreign exchange and interest rate, working with salespeople and traders to execute the idea with our cleints. It is nothing like the movie "Wall Street." I get to use some algebra and basic calculus plus some basic probability and statistics. I try to dress like a true banker, i.e. dark suits and tie, now that I am really one!
I have been married to Tiaranad for six years, we have two beautiful children Tara (5, girl) and Trin (3.5, boy). We all live in Hong Kong.
Like Dr. Peters, you rescued me from self imposed confusion. Like Dr Peters, I was at Yale before MIT. I absolutely disliked New Haven and wanted to move north to Boston. Although many said it could not be true, I was recruited to MIT because of my interest in combustion. Lucky me!! Supposedly there was a shortage of students in the field of combustion in the late 80's. After the first semester, I took the doctoral qualifying exam. I also registered for the Practice School as an insurance. If I didn't want to continue, I could graduate with a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering Practice and go straight to work. I passed the qualifier and you were so kind in assuring me that I really passed and that you really wanted me to work on coal combustion.
And I never looked back. My years at the Ralph Landau (Cheese Cake) Building were some of the best years of my life. I probably said it many times before, but I can't say it enough. Thank you, Professor Howard, for being there for me. My experience at MIT kicked started my career in, ahem, banking, and my banking friends and colleagues are still fascinated by the fact that I have a Ph.D. from MIT.
I am returning to Boston in 2 weeks for college recruiting. The secret is out, and investment banks are recruiting science and engineering students, especially Ph.D.'s. I hope that I can visit you at your home and please reply to my email if you think it is OK.
I have also been touched by the poem posted by Carolyn in the blog. Because of you, Dr. Peters, and many friends from MIT, my cup is over flowing. Let's be cheerful and keep drinking from the saucer.
Happy belated 70th birthday and get well soon.
Sarakorn Gerjarusak, Ph.D. '93 (Plasticity Kinetics of Different coal Types)Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLCFixed Income, Currency & Commodity Division(O) +852 2978 2977 (M) +852 9155 0555bobby.gerjarusak@gs.com
First, a big thank you to Phillip Westmoreland for informing me (and other former students) of Professor Howard's illness.
Since I left MIT in 1993, I have not been in touch with Jack Howard and Bill Peters, my thesis advisors. I returned to Bangkok, Thailand, with the intention to join Esso's refinery (known as Exxon in USA). However, I was recruited by a course X alumnus, Chartsiri Sophonpanich, whose family was a big shareholder of Bangkok Bank (he is currently the bank's President). I worked at Bangkok Bank for a year as a foreign exchange trader. I then decided to put engineering on hold and took a plunge into investment banking. I travelled to Hong Kong in the summer of 1994 and have lived here ever since. I worked for Merrill Lynch, Barclays, Lehman Brothers, and HSBC. I am currently with Goldman Sachs, working as Managing Director and head of macro structuring for non-Japan Asia.
In case you are wondering what exactly is my job, I will try to explain it the best I can. I work for the largest securities firm in the world. Goldman Sachs is kinda like MIT of investment banking! Everyone in an investment bank aspire to be a manging director. About 6% of the employee at Goldman Sachs are managing directors (although there are different levels of seniority, Lloyd Blankfein, CEO of Golmand Sach is also a Managing Director, but at least 10 levels above me). I am in charge of coming up with trade ideas in foreign exchange and interest rate, working with salespeople and traders to execute the idea with our cleints. It is nothing like the movie "Wall Street." I get to use some algebra and basic calculus plus some basic probability and statistics. I try to dress like a true banker, i.e. dark suits and tie, now that I am really one!
I have been married to Tiaranad for six years, we have two beautiful children Tara (5, girl) and Trin (3.5, boy). We all live in Hong Kong.
Like Dr. Peters, you rescued me from self imposed confusion. Like Dr Peters, I was at Yale before MIT. I absolutely disliked New Haven and wanted to move north to Boston. Although many said it could not be true, I was recruited to MIT because of my interest in combustion. Lucky me!! Supposedly there was a shortage of students in the field of combustion in the late 80's. After the first semester, I took the doctoral qualifying exam. I also registered for the Practice School as an insurance. If I didn't want to continue, I could graduate with a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering Practice and go straight to work. I passed the qualifier and you were so kind in assuring me that I really passed and that you really wanted me to work on coal combustion.
And I never looked back. My years at the Ralph Landau (Cheese Cake) Building were some of the best years of my life. I probably said it many times before, but I can't say it enough. Thank you, Professor Howard, for being there for me. My experience at MIT kicked started my career in, ahem, banking, and my banking friends and colleagues are still fascinated by the fact that I have a Ph.D. from MIT.
I am returning to Boston in 2 weeks for college recruiting. The secret is out, and investment banks are recruiting science and engineering students, especially Ph.D.'s. I hope that I can visit you at your home and please reply to my email if you think it is OK.
I have also been touched by the poem posted by Carolyn in the blog. Because of you, Dr. Peters, and many friends from MIT, my cup is over flowing. Let's be cheerful and keep drinking from the saucer.
Happy belated 70th birthday and get well soon.
Sarakorn Gerjarusak, Ph.D. '93 (Plasticity Kinetics of Different coal Types)Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLCFixed Income, Currency & Commodity Division(O) +852 2978 2977 (M) +852 9155 0555bobby.gerjarusak@gs.com
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Gina and John Nenniger
Hello Howards,
We are so sad to hear your news. We have been terrible about staying in touch. Last year my electronic daytimer and my hard drive packed it in within 24 hours, which made it even worse, because I lost what few phone numbers we had. We are well and still enjoying living in Calgary. Emily (20) is now at San Francisco Conservatory of Music studying violin. We are mystified as to where the interest in music came from. Maybe it is just her way of marking out her territory completely separate from John and me, but she has been very firm since she was four that this is what she wants to do. Beth (17) spent grade 11 attending a public school in Spain. It was the best thing we ever did for her. She came home completely fluent in Spanish and finished two years of high school in one year. She is now living in Vancouver and trying to decide what she wants to do for university. We had a lot of medical problems with Beth when she was little. We almost lost her twice and spent much of her first three years in Children's hospital. Those early years seem to have given her a fierce sense of independence, which is now serving her well, but made for some difficult times as a parent. Meghan (15) is still at home. I suspect that she will go pretty much the same route as Emily, as she is very committed to her viollin. Both she and Emily have had some wonderful opportunities to travel the world through their music. Because of the travelling and competitions Emily was and Meghan still is home-schooled. Beth also found she could accelerate through home-schooling, so she finished high school through a home-schooling program. Jason (11) is into hockey. I never thought I would become a hockey mom, but it does keep him motivated with respect to schoolwork and other commitments. He plays goalie, but is always the smallest on his team. There is not much going for him in his genes.
John and I started our own company 21 years ago when Petro-Canada shut down their research lab. It was a blessing in disguise. John is much happier and I have flexibility wrt to working hours. For many years we specialized in addressing plugging deposit problems in the upsteam oilfield -- wax, asphaltenes, scale, hydrates. In the lean times, John started following his passion, which is inventing things. We have a lab in a warehouse bay. I even got my Class 3 air brakes card, so I could drive the heavy trucks to field trials. We have always joked that we could drive 18 wheelers if the company doesn't work out. John is now deeply involved in a solvent process for the tar sands. Our consulting business has pretty much shut down. I don't know where we will be if this latest project does not pan out. I do all the administration for the company and chase kids. With John's heavy commitment to work, Beth's medical problems, and four kids, I have really cut back on my engineering hours, but maybe that will change in the future. John is thoroughly enjoying this latest project and will talk your ear off, if given the chance.
We would very much like to hear from you, if you feel up to it. Our thoughts are very much with you.
Wishing you all the best from your former students and fellow Kentuckian,
Gina and John Nenniger
We are so sad to hear your news. We have been terrible about staying in touch. Last year my electronic daytimer and my hard drive packed it in within 24 hours, which made it even worse, because I lost what few phone numbers we had. We are well and still enjoying living in Calgary. Emily (20) is now at San Francisco Conservatory of Music studying violin. We are mystified as to where the interest in music came from. Maybe it is just her way of marking out her territory completely separate from John and me, but she has been very firm since she was four that this is what she wants to do. Beth (17) spent grade 11 attending a public school in Spain. It was the best thing we ever did for her. She came home completely fluent in Spanish and finished two years of high school in one year. She is now living in Vancouver and trying to decide what she wants to do for university. We had a lot of medical problems with Beth when she was little. We almost lost her twice and spent much of her first three years in Children's hospital. Those early years seem to have given her a fierce sense of independence, which is now serving her well, but made for some difficult times as a parent. Meghan (15) is still at home. I suspect that she will go pretty much the same route as Emily, as she is very committed to her viollin. Both she and Emily have had some wonderful opportunities to travel the world through their music. Because of the travelling and competitions Emily was and Meghan still is home-schooled. Beth also found she could accelerate through home-schooling, so she finished high school through a home-schooling program. Jason (11) is into hockey. I never thought I would become a hockey mom, but it does keep him motivated with respect to schoolwork and other commitments. He plays goalie, but is always the smallest on his team. There is not much going for him in his genes.
John and I started our own company 21 years ago when Petro-Canada shut down their research lab. It was a blessing in disguise. John is much happier and I have flexibility wrt to working hours. For many years we specialized in addressing plugging deposit problems in the upsteam oilfield -- wax, asphaltenes, scale, hydrates. In the lean times, John started following his passion, which is inventing things. We have a lab in a warehouse bay. I even got my Class 3 air brakes card, so I could drive the heavy trucks to field trials. We have always joked that we could drive 18 wheelers if the company doesn't work out. John is now deeply involved in a solvent process for the tar sands. Our consulting business has pretty much shut down. I don't know where we will be if this latest project does not pan out. I do all the administration for the company and chase kids. With John's heavy commitment to work, Beth's medical problems, and four kids, I have really cut back on my engineering hours, but maybe that will change in the future. John is thoroughly enjoying this latest project and will talk your ear off, if given the chance.
We would very much like to hear from you, if you feel up to it. Our thoughts are very much with you.
Wishing you all the best from your former students and fellow Kentuckian,
Gina and John Nenniger
Don Anthony Wishes
Dear Carolyn and Jack,
Phil Westmoreland passed on the information about Jack’s diagnosis. I was very sorry to hear about it but in reading your web blog, it is apparent that you are handling the situation extremely well. Our prayers are with you both.
By the way, Happy Birthday, Jack. Phil mentioned that this would be number 70.
Darla and I are living in North Venice, Florida, on a golf course with tennis courts just down the street. The beach is 10 minutes away. Given these surroundings, you might surmise that I have retired and that was certainly the plan. However, the doctoral thesis that I did working for Jack intervened and it now looks like retirement is a few years away.
Three years I got a call from three young entrepreneurs who were actually reading my MIT dissertation. They were planning to start a business based on catalytic coal gasification to synthetic natural gas and were looking for advisors who knew something about it. I agreed to give them some free advice based on my technical and business background, fully anticipating when they realized the magnitude of the undertaking that they would give up and do something else. A year later, they secured their first venture capital funding and formally founded a new company called Great Point Energy. I was invited to join their board. This summer after securing a second round of venture capital funds and getting Citibank and Dow Chemical to lead a third round of funding, I agreed to join full time as their chief technology officer. The company has just raised another $100 million and is now proceeding to build a demonstration plant.
Jack, this company and its technology is, in essence, based on the observation that you and Hoyt Hottel made in your 1970 book, New Energy Technology, that the best way to make synthetic natural gas from coal would be to find a catalyst that allowed low temperature operation. By the way, my “dog-eared” copy of your book is still the most useful reference book on the subject.
I do get to Cambridge from time to time and would love to stop by and chat if you are up for it.
Again, our prayers are with you.
Don Anthony
Donald B. Anthony, Sc.D.
Chief Technology Officer
Great Point Energy, Inc.
Cell phone 1: 617-821-1097
Cell phone 2: 216-396-8664
Email: danthony@greatpointenergy.com
This e-mail may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient (or have received this email in error) please notify the sender immediately and destroy this email. Any unauthorized copying, disclosure or distribution of the material in this email is strictly prohibited.
Phil Westmoreland passed on the information about Jack’s diagnosis. I was very sorry to hear about it but in reading your web blog, it is apparent that you are handling the situation extremely well. Our prayers are with you both.
By the way, Happy Birthday, Jack. Phil mentioned that this would be number 70.
Darla and I are living in North Venice, Florida, on a golf course with tennis courts just down the street. The beach is 10 minutes away. Given these surroundings, you might surmise that I have retired and that was certainly the plan. However, the doctoral thesis that I did working for Jack intervened and it now looks like retirement is a few years away.
Three years I got a call from three young entrepreneurs who were actually reading my MIT dissertation. They were planning to start a business based on catalytic coal gasification to synthetic natural gas and were looking for advisors who knew something about it. I agreed to give them some free advice based on my technical and business background, fully anticipating when they realized the magnitude of the undertaking that they would give up and do something else. A year later, they secured their first venture capital funding and formally founded a new company called Great Point Energy. I was invited to join their board. This summer after securing a second round of venture capital funds and getting Citibank and Dow Chemical to lead a third round of funding, I agreed to join full time as their chief technology officer. The company has just raised another $100 million and is now proceeding to build a demonstration plant.
Jack, this company and its technology is, in essence, based on the observation that you and Hoyt Hottel made in your 1970 book, New Energy Technology, that the best way to make synthetic natural gas from coal would be to find a catalyst that allowed low temperature operation. By the way, my “dog-eared” copy of your book is still the most useful reference book on the subject.
I do get to Cambridge from time to time and would love to stop by and chat if you are up for it.
Again, our prayers are with you.
Don Anthony
Donald B. Anthony, Sc.D.
Chief Technology Officer
Great Point Energy, Inc.
Cell phone 1: 617-821-1097
Cell phone 2: 216-396-8664
Email: danthony@greatpointenergy.com
This e-mail may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient (or have received this email in error) please notify the sender immediately and destroy this email. Any unauthorized copying, disclosure or distribution of the material in this email is strictly prohibited.
Brian Haynes - President of Combustion Institute
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
October 16th, 2007
Professor Jack B. Howard
CI_logo_hires24 Central St
Winchester, MA 01890-2630
USA
Dear Jack,
I was very sorry to learn of your illness, but heartened to be able to follow your progress and the family’s exploits behind it on the blog. Having Caroline on the case must encourage the medical teams to perform at their very best, for which we are all thankful.
It has been my pleasure over the past few years as President of the Combustion Institute to be able to honour some of the most illustrious members of our community at the time of their significant birthdays. Now with your 70th, I am able to do that truly from the heart because I have known your work and you personally now for more than 30 years. You and Carolyn showed me and Gillian great hospitality when I was at MIT from 1979-1981, at a time when we were starting our own family. While you and I did not work directly together, I learned first-hand of your unfailingly gentlemanly nature and scholarly disposition.
Your work in coal and other carbons, ranging from soot to fullerene, stands out for its breadth and depth. You 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, your work on active sites in carbon reactions set the scene for much of the work that has followed.
As a senior member of the Combustion Institute, you have given your time and your wise counsel to promoting the interests of the Institute and the community it represents, including being a Board Member from 1994-2006. You have been 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”.
You are one of the greats of modern combustion research. Your contributions have been immense and the legacy of your work will endure for many years. We are indebted to you.
I wish you all the best today on the occasion of your 70th birthday. While I am sure you will be spending the day quietly with your fantastic family, I know I speak for many in the combustion community when I
bsh signatureemphasise how much we have to celebrate on this occasion. Our thoughts are with you and Carolyn, Courtenay and Jonathon.
Yours sincerely
Brian S. Haynes
President
5001 Baum Boulevard, Suite 635
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213-1851 USA
Telephone: (412)687-1366 Fax: (412)687-0340
Email: office@combustioninstitute.org
October 16th, 2007
Professor Jack B. Howard
CI_logo_hires24 Central St
Winchester, MA 01890-2630
USA
Dear Jack,
I was very sorry to learn of your illness, but heartened to be able to follow your progress and the family’s exploits behind it on the blog. Having Caroline on the case must encourage the medical teams to perform at their very best, for which we are all thankful.
It has been my pleasure over the past few years as President of the Combustion Institute to be able to honour some of the most illustrious members of our community at the time of their significant birthdays. Now with your 70th, I am able to do that truly from the heart because I have known your work and you personally now for more than 30 years. You and Carolyn showed me and Gillian great hospitality when I was at MIT from 1979-1981, at a time when we were starting our own family. While you and I did not work directly together, I learned first-hand of your unfailingly gentlemanly nature and scholarly disposition.
Your work in coal and other carbons, ranging from soot to fullerene, stands out for its breadth and depth. You 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, your work on active sites in carbon reactions set the scene for much of the work that has followed.
As a senior member of the Combustion Institute, you have given your time and your wise counsel to promoting the interests of the Institute and the community it represents, including being a Board Member from 1994-2006. You have been 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”.
You are one of the greats of modern combustion research. Your contributions have been immense and the legacy of your work will endure for many years. We are indebted to you.
I wish you all the best today on the occasion of your 70th birthday. While I am sure you will be spending the day quietly with your fantastic family, I know I speak for many in the combustion community when I
bsh signatureemphasise how much we have to celebrate on this occasion. Our thoughts are with you and Carolyn, Courtenay and Jonathon.
Yours sincerely
Brian S. Haynes
President
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