Aron Kuppermann

Aron Kuppermann

May 6, 1926 - October 15, 2011

Aron Kuppermann, noted chemical physicist at the California Institute of Technology and beloved husband, father and grandfather, died peacefully at his home in Altadena on October 15, 2011, at the age of 85. Aron was born in São Paulo, Brazil in 1926 to Jacob and Miriam Kuppermann. He was married to Roza Davidson Kuppermann for 60 years and together they raised four children: Baruch (Jantana Krisanayuth) of Laguna Beach, California; Miriam (Andy Avins) of Kentfield, California; Nate (Nicole Glaser) of Davis, California; and Sharon of Pasadena, California. He also leaves behind eight grandchildren (Jacob and Ethan Kuppermann; Jeremy, Gabe, and Danny Avins; and Maya, Elie, and Cianna Kuppermann).

Early on, Aron developed a love for mathematics and science, which ultimately led to a long and distinguished career in chemical physics. He received a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering with highest honors from the Polytechnic School of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1948. He pursued graduate training in radiation chemistry at the University of Edinburgh, and then went on to obtain a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Notre Dame in 1955. After eight years on the faculty of the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, he moved to the California Institute of Technology, where he was a Professor of Chemical Physics from 1963 to 2010 when he became an active professor emeritus.

Aron's contributions to science were prolific and international in scope. He was widely admired as one of the world leaders in the field of computational chemistry, and was best known for his theoretical studies of the dynamics of chemical reactions. Beginning in his sixties and lasting well into his eighties, Aron consulted for the World Bank and traveled to China, Uganda, and Brazil to work on the development of scientific infrastructure and investigation in those countries. In addition to his scientific contributions, Aron cared deeply about education in the community, participating in the Pasadena Educational Foundation and on the Board of Trustees for Villa Esperanza Services Villa (which serves the needs of the developmentally disabled) for many years. He was passionately interested in world affairs, in particular those related to social welfare, justice, peace, and Israel.

Aron was beloved not only by his family members, friends and colleagues, but also by the legions of students and post-doctoral fellows whom he mentored with great dedication and good humor. He instilled in his children and grandchildren a great sense of adventure, along with a "can do" spirit and a strong belief in pursuing one's passions. He was in every way a humble, altruistic, honorable, ethical, and compassionate man, and he served as a true role model to his children and grandchildren. We will all miss him dearly.

In lieu of flowers, donations to honor Aron's memory can be sent to Villa Esperanza Services, attention: Development, 2060 East Villa Street, Pasadena, CA, 91107, telephone 626 449-2919, ext 128, mcox@villaesperanzaservices.org