Jerry Mahlman

Renowned climate scientist, Dr. Jerry D. Mahlman, previously a resident of Longmont, CO, and recently of Sunrise Assisted Living in Buffalo Grove, IL, died peacefully on November 28, 2012. Jerry was born on February 21, 1940 in Crawford, NE. He received his undergraduate degree from Chadron State College in 1962 and his Ph.D. in atmospheric science from Colorado State University in 1967. He was married in 1962 to Janet Hilgenberg of Hot Springs, SD. Dr. Mahlman spent most of his career modeling how Earth's atmosphere responds to the steady buildup of greenhouse gases. From 1970 to 2000 he worked at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory of NOAA in Princeton, NJ, serving as Director from 1984-2000, and was a Professor in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at Princeton University. His expertise was understanding the behavior of the stratosphere and troposphere, and over many years he occupied a central role in interpreting the global warming problem to both policymakers and the public all over the world. Among his many awards he received the U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Medal, the prestigious Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal from the American Meteorological Society and the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award- the highest honor awarded to a federal employee. After retiring from GFDL, he was a senior researcher at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, CO. Jerry is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Janet, his parents Earl and Ruth Mahlman and his brother Charles Ned (Lee) Mahlman. Surviving are his son Gary Mahlman of Longmont CO, his daughter Julie (Garrin) Kapecki and his grandsons Alex Kapecki and Collin Kapecki of Lincolnshire, IL, his brothers Kent (Jean) Mahlman of Wickenburg, AZ, Don (Connie) Mahlman of Fairbury, NE, and Rex (Marcia) Mahlman of Branson, MO. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 11:00am at the Wenban Funeral Home in Lake Forest, IL. There will be a visitation at Wenban preceding the service from 9:00 to 11:00am. Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association Greater Illinois Chapter 8430 W. Bryn Mawr Ave, Suite 88 Chicago IL 60631. Info: Wenban Funeral Home, Lake Forest, IL (847)234-0022 or www.wenbanfh.com