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John W. Marburger
John W. Marburger
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John Marburger Obituary
A Democrat, Marburger was in charge of science policy during the eight years of Bush's Republican administration, often dealing with issues about man-made global warming and claims of political interference in science. He was a physicist. He also was the longest serving presidential science adviser in U.S. history.
Marburger was the third president of Stony Brook University, serving for 14 years. Then he was director of the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Both institutions are on Long Island in New York state. He was known as Jack.
"Jack Marburger had a remarkable ability to defuse explosive situations and get people to collaborate for the greater good," said former Stony Brook University president Shirley Strum Kenny, who took over when Marburger went to run the Department of Energy's Brookhaven lab in 1994.
From 2001 to 2009 during his White House tenure, Marburger had more than his share of explosive situations to deal with, including climate change and the president's decision to restrict federal funding of stem cell research to climate change.
Scientists claimed the Bush Administration had a "war on science," and Marburger was caught in the middle in a public dispute between his colleagues in the White House and his former colleagues in academic life.
"I think people overestimate the power of government to affect science," he told The New York Times in 2004. "Science has so many self-correcting aspects that I'm not really worried about these things."
Marburger repeatedly said the White House did not deny the science behind climate change but had a free-market philosophy that was not anti-science.
"Those of us who had the privilege to know him benefited greatly from his extensive knowledge, pragmatic thinking, and warm friendship, and we take comfort in knowing that his determination to explore new scientific frontiers and his enduring commitment to America's farsighted focus on science and technology will be continued by all those he inspired," John Holdren, the current White House science adviser, said in a statement.
Holdren noted that Marburger worked while also battling cancer. In 2010, he returned to Stony Brook to be its vice president of research.
Marburger died Thursday at his home in Port Jefferson, New York, after four years of treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He is survived by his wife, Carol.
Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press
24 Entries
June 6, 2014
I just noted this, Mary, his younger sibling was my best childhood friend. I am so happy to hear of his lifelong accomplishments and so sorry to hear of his early departure from this earthly existance. I am sure his wife, Carol will miss him. Mary, I am sorry I never acknowledged your loss.
August 10, 2011
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Rita Kopin
August 10, 2011
Carol, I was so sorry to hear the sad news about your beloved John. May your wonderful memories be a comfort to you. I hope to see you again in Bethesda and at THIS. It was always a joy to see you at our meetings. My thoughts are with you.
Bernard Bendow
August 6, 2011
It was a great pleasure in the early '70s for us at AFCRL to work with Jack & folks at USC on laser-material interactions. One of the nicest and most intelligent individuals I have had had the privilege of knowing. A few joint pubs (B. Bendow, P.D.
Gianino, M. Flannery, J.H. Marburger, ``Influence of Crystal Anisotropy on Composite Window Design for Reducing Thermal Distortion,'' in Proceedings of Fourth Laser Window Conference, Tucson, Ariz. (1974)) but valuable insights and interactions for many years.
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Mary Bazargan
August 4, 2011
My Sincere Condolences to you my dear Carol, and your family. I am so sorry your lost your love one,that I lost my daughter and exactly I know your feeling, I hope you come back again and we see you most often in Washington. I alway remember you beutiful and kind face. I love you and hope see you soon-
Mary Bazargan from THIS
Carla Allen
August 2, 2011
Thinking of you, Carol. What an impressive life John had.
Carla Allen
George Waldo
August 1, 2011
The news of the death of John Marburger was both shocking and saddening to me. John (I always called him “John”) and I were friends in Bladensburg High school. We sat together in class during double chemistry and double physics from September 1956 to June 1958. During these years we had many in depth discussions of problems in chemistry, physics and mathematics. We also had a philosophy club in which we studied Plato. John was very respectful and modest in all these discussions even though I was often arrogant, assertive and flippant. He was even respectful of faith and people of faith while, at the time, I was a scoffer.
Looking back, I am astounded that a very intellectual, ambitious and competitive 17 year old boy was so considerate me and others. I will always be grateful for his friendship.
My deepest regards for his family.
George “Van” Waldo, Jr.
Joseph Fierro
August 1, 2011
I was a student at SUNY/Stony Brook in the eighties when Dr. Marburger was president. His leadership of this great college, and his subsequent service at Brookhaven National Lab and in the White House, are examples to all of us of his exceptional leadership. He will be long remembered and missed.
Joseph Fierro
Susan Briggs
August 1, 2011
My sincere condolences to family, friends and colleagues as they mourn the loss, remember the love and celebrate the life of John Marburger. I had the opportunity to work with him at Brookhaven National Lab...he was a great man.
Gregory Knudson
August 1, 2011
It was an honor to have known Dr. Marburger. He will be remembered for his service to our country and as a friend to the scientific community.
Rich Nocis
August 1, 2011
Thank you for serving your country!
Olga P.
July 31, 2011
My condolences to the family of John Marburger. May you all find comfort from God's word recorded at Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6 regarding the loss of your loved one.
July 31, 2011
sorry tontn hear about john.aunt mammie
was my grand father's sister.his name was
walter dixon.god bless & keep you all.
george lusby
4131 alder pl.
cocoa fl.32926
Joan C. Golec
July 31, 2011
My Deepest Condolences To Everyone.
Just Cherish the "Happy Memories" in your Hearts forever.
My Thoughts & Prayers are with you during these days of Deep Sorrow.
May he RIP in the Garden of Heaven.
Warm Regards,
July 31, 2011
May the God of all comfort be with the Marburger family at this time of grief and the words at 2Cor.1;3,4 be of encouragement to family and friends.
Charles Brazil
July 31, 2011
Wow I never knew we had a presidential science advisor...R.I.P
Robert Borstelmann
July 30, 2011
It was my distinct privilege, as the Vice-President of Extebank in old Stony Brook village,to know and serve Jack and Carol. I remember so clearly the morning they visited me at my office when they first arrived. I knew right away that they were something special!! I had the honor to serve on various committees with Jack and to have the pleasure of their company at many social functions.
Grace joins me in sorrow to lose such a fine man. It was my good fortune to be there during a remarkable time!
Bob Borstelmann
July 30, 2011
I had the privilege of knowing Jack when he served on my PhD dissertation committee at the University of Southern California in the mid 60's. He was a young professor then, but it was already obvious to those of us who worked with him, students and fellow professors alike, that Jack would have an outstanding career in science and education. A brilliant mind coupled with a warm and engaging personality enabled Jack to relate to students in a way that at once inspired and informed. Jack had the good grace to include me as a co-author on a paper published while I was a PhD student even though my principle contribution was to run computer programs and help analyze data. But that was Jack, always there to help and encourage his students. Jack helped me again later in life after I had retired and he was President Bush's science advisor. I had a question about relativity that I thought required the deep insight of a leading expert in the field, so I sent Jack an email asking if he could refer me to someone, wondering if he would remember me. He did indeed remember me and mentioned the project we had worked on together at USC many years earlier. Jack's response to my question was that he had some free time that morning to consider my problem and in short order had it completely analyzed and sorted out for me. He took the time out of a busy schedule, no doubt filled with meetings with the elite in science and government, to help one of his old students. Quite a teacher - -quite a man!
Lloyd Huff, PhD, USC class of '69
Rich Bentley
July 30, 2011
Jack Marburger is a true source of pride for the Stony Brook family which all students, staff, faculty and alumni with whom we are very fortunate to have known. May his research efforts continue to inspire and lead to more success in cures for all such dreadful diseases. Heartfelt sympathy to Carol and his family. RJB, Class of 1980.
Marcos Boronat
July 30, 2011
My condolences to the family, John Marburger was President at the University of Stony Brook when I was an undergraduate.
Henryk Zaleski
July 30, 2011
Rest in peace.
R Golay
July 30, 2011
To the the family of John Marburger - May God give you peace and comfort through his word and the Lord Jesus Christ during this time of sorrow, I know that he will be missed by many.
Grace Sjolin
July 29, 2011
My deepest sympathies to the Marburger Family. I work for Stony Brook University and had met Jack Marburger several times. A true gentleman and he will be truly missed.
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