Richard ''Dick'' Davisson
December 28, 1922 - June 15, 2004
Obituary
Dick was born 12/28/1922 in New Jersey to Clinton and Charlotte
Davisson, and passed away 6/15/2004 in Seattle.
Born into a family of physicists, Dick’s fate was sealed from the
beginning; he inherited a curiosity about the natural world that would
last his entire life. In his youth, he explored the forces of nature
and learned to sail while summering in Maine. His studies at MIT were
interrupted by WWII and the Army’s decision that they wanted him for
the Manhattan Project. Dick witnessed the first nuclear explosion, and
discovered that fallout is not a desirable seasoning for steak. In
1948, he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Physics at MIT, and then
went on to post-graduate work at Cornell. After college, he worked for
Hermes Electronics in Cambridge, Mass, and contracted with the CIA to
research using Sputnik as a primitive GPS.
In 1962, Dick was recruited to the University of Washington as a
Physics Instructor/Lecturer. He and Elizabeth Betty married in
January of 1964 and in 1965 they foisted their co-creation Gordon on
the world. They helped found the Pacific Science Center’s School for
Science, and Dick built a number of exhibits for PSC and the Woodland
Park Zoo. At the UW, he transitioned from teaching to research and
participated in designing particle detectors for DUMAND in the Pacific
Ocean, JACEE in the upper atmosphere, Fermilab in Illinois, the
Superconducting Supercollider in Texas, and CERN in Switzerland. Dick
retired from the UW in 2000 at age 77.
Dick was an inventor of gadgets, occasional ”mad scientist,” member of
the 5th Force 5th Column’s 5th Estate, Big Time Brewery regular, and
all around miscreant. His more creative projects include a personal
hydrofoil, a rear-steering unrideable bicycle, a collapsable yurt, a
walk-in pinhole camera, and a square-round-triangular-peg puzzle with
only one peg.
Dick is survived by his wife Betty, sister Elizabeth, son Gordon,
daughter-out-law Berit Benson, and tactically-adopted daughter Debbie
Olson. He will be missed by his family, UW cohorts, Big Time gang, and
other members of the conspiracy.
I will always remember Dick’s kindness and generosity.
Sorry to see you go Dick. It was a pleasure to know you and share some times together. Too bad that this is it.
I remember Dick from my graduate school days of the late sixties and early seventies. He was truly a unique and unforgettable character. He had a great way of showing you that you didn’t know as much as you thought you did.
To me, the most fascinating of Dick’s many wonderful qualities was his total independence: frankly, my dear, he did not give a damn what others might think in matters of personal style, political opinion, or general worldview. But his independence was neither self-inflating nor hostile toward others. Dick will be sorely missed.
The Times’ published memoir captures much of the flavor. Dick was a great friend, inspite of his independence you could lean on him. Also in physics, his insights were deep–he had talents which went way beyond gadgeteering.
A rewarding person. Woe that he is gone!
I knew Dick while I was a graduate student in Physics at the UW in the late 60’s and early 70’s, but I doubt that he would remember me. However, I remember him quite well. His knowledge, curiosity, and passion were a joy to behold. Truly one of a kind.
Dick was a wonderful person, full of vitality and mirth. I will miss hime.
Dick was an amazing and unique person who had never lost the curiosity and enthusiasm of the child encountering his surroundings. It was a privilege and pleasure to have worked with him for some 20 years. He is sorely missed.
Dick was truly one of a kind. While educated as a physicist, he was also a brilliant engineer capable of producing some highly original and elegant solutions. He is sorely missed.
We’ll miss you Dick – the world
needs more of your approach to
things. You’ve been a true
inspiration.
I will miss Dick’s good company and dissatisfaction with only solving a problem one way. He was a very good friend indeed.
Amazingly creative and always looked for non-conventional solutions to problems. Always interested in a puzzle and was a helpful resource helping many UW physics students.