IRWIN OPPENHEIM

Oppenheim, Irwin 84, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Professor of Chemistry at MIT, passed away June 3, 2014. With him were his wife of 40 years, Bernice Buresh, his son, Joshua Buresh-Oppenheim, his daughter-in-law, Rachel Schorr Hirsch, and his cousins Jerrold Oppenheim and Theo MacGregor. Professor Oppenheim was born in Boston and was a member of the Harvard class of 1949. He attended graduate school at the California Institute of Technology and received his Ph.D. from Yale University. In 1961, he joined the chemistry faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he remained throughout his career. His research was in theoretical physical chemistry, in particular in statistical mechanics and thermodynamics. He was famous for the clarity of his lectures on complicated topics, which many students said led them to aspire to become professional scientists. He was an inspired PhD thesis and postdoctoral advisor to over 50 individuals, many of whom went on to university positions throughout the world. Professor Oppenheim is also lovingly remembered by his close cousin, Edith Yanklowitz of Palo Alto, his granddaughter, Rosalind Oppenheim, and many other family members, lifelong friends, colleagues, and his many students and post-doctoral fellows. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that contributions be made to the Greater Boston Food Bank, https://my.gbfb.org/tribute A memorial service will be announced in the future. For more information please visit http://www.cambridgesidefuneralhome.com/obituaries.php