John Shearer Irwin

September 12, 1945 ~ August 17, 2016

Raleigh

Just after midnight with a full moon lighting his way, my husband and best friend ceased to be in pain from a 13 ½ year battle with mantle cell lymphoma.

A gentleman and a scholar, John Irwin was a good and kind man with a zest for life. He was considered unique in his field of meteorology. He never said an unkind word about anyone and only saw the best in people.

John and his wife Rhonda proved to be better together than apart in their 26 year marriage. His love for his family, brother Joe, twin sisters Sue and Sarah, brother-in-law Darald, sister-in-law Gailyn and a host of nieces and nephews was unending. His love also carried over to Rhonda's parents Bruce and Voncile. He had a host of friends who enjoyed his wit and humor along with co-workers in the scientific world who benefitted from his expansive knowledge and desire to make a difference.

John enjoyed duplicate bridge, shag dancing and studying astronomy with the Raleigh Astronomy Club. He loved spending time at our condo on Topsail Island, usually with a good book in his hand.

John earned a Bachelor's Degree in Physics from Maryland University and a Master's Degree in Meteorology from N.C. State University. He served in the Air Force for 4 years.

John loved his science. He made substantial contributions toward the development and application of air quality models during his tenure at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and the US Environmental Protection Agency in the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. He is internationally recognized because of his numerous research papers in many scientific journals and his research collaborations with national and European scientists. John helped develop air pollution models that are being used worldwide.

In recognition of John's lifetime commitment to the advancement of science and its application to environmental policy-making, contributions to John's memory may be made to "John S. Irwin Scientific Legacy Fund" and mailed to: C/O CNCC-AMS, 303 Glasgow Rd., Cary, NC 27511.

In lieu of a formal service, a celebration of John's life will be announced at a later date.

I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Stephen Tremont and Dr. Richard Adelman for taking such good care of John all these years.

"Rest easy now my love. Your Rhonda"

A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 S. Main St., Wake Forest, NC 27587 (919-556-5811)

www.brightfunerals.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The News and Observer on Aug. 21, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for John Irwin

Sponsored by Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.

11 Entries

Elisa Canepa

August 27, 2025

Thanks again John for all the work together

Elisa Canepa (Italy)

August 16, 2023

Thanks John for all the work together

Marko Kaasik

December 16, 2016

Dear Rhonda,

I have met John at several research conferences in last 20 years. Also, I have got a lot of data for my reasearch from his website collectins. Although our contacts were rather sporadic, I remember him as an excellent scientist and worldwide organizer in atmospheric research. My condolence!

Helge Olesen

September 7, 2016

Dear Rhonda,
I am sad to hear that John has passed away. I have known him since the early eighties when we met in Denmark.
He was always very enthusiastic about improving air pollution modelling science, and throughout the years he has been a great support for the work of the international initiative on "Harmonisation within Atmospheric Modelling for Regulatory Purposes". Our initiative started as mainly European, but John was a great help in establishing US contacts, and he took part in most of our international meetings from the first in 1992 until after his retirement. At the conference in Crete 2005 John received an award for his outstanding contributions to the Harmonisation conferences. Even after his retirement he continued to be active.
I enjoyed his and your company whenever we met. John was a unique person and I'll miss him.

August 26, 2016

Dear Rhonda,

I was saddened to read about John. I missed you both when you stopped playing bridge. The obituary you wrote was really beautiful. I know it will be hard for you to be without him,
and I am truly sorry for your great loss. Annalee Gault

Guido Cosemans

August 25, 2016

Dear Rhonda,

The days I had the pleasure to meet John are amidst the sunniest days in my memories.

You often were present at those conferences as well, and I was always impressed by the goodness that radiated out of each of you. (There isn't yet an instrument to measure this radiation in a scientific way.)

John was a exceptional man as well as a friend as as a scientist.

While writing this, I would thank you and John for the beautiful New Year cards you've send me during some years, and I apologise that I usually forgot to return a card with New Year Wishes. I always intended to, and I did so a few times around Eastern.
I'm afraid I'm a bit of an absent-minded professor, so, please forgive me.

Elisa Canepa

August 24, 2016

John was a great co-author and a great friend, together with Rhonda. They were always so kind and we spent so nice time when they came to see me in Genoa.

Dear Rhonda, my heart goes out to you.

Paolo Zannetti

August 23, 2016

I have a very good memory of my interactions with John. I was about to call him a few days ago for a possible consulting work together. A great man and a great scientist. I will never forget the outstanding effort and dedication he showed in the preparation of a long and comprehensive chapter in a book I edited.

I will miss his friendship and scientific support.

Clint Bowman

August 23, 2016

I've been in the meteorology and air pollution business for forty years and kept encountering the name and the person, John Irwin. He was always full of ideas and a delight to be around. I'm sure his passing is difficult for family and friends; but I can assure you that those of us who knew him only professionally feel an equal loss.

Tom Pace

August 22, 2016

John was a wonderful person and colleague. I got to really know him in the early 90's when he was an invaluable member of our Russia team. He will be missed by all that knew him.

Marcia Dodge

August 21, 2016

Rhonda, I am so sorry to learn of John's death. I very much enjoyed the interactions I had with him both at EPA and at the bridge table. He was a wonderful person....smart, witty, easy to get along with and he will be missed.

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