David Ritz Finkelstein

It has been my honour and privilege to have known David from the moment I saw and met him at the American Physical Society Conference in New York in January 1979. He was the great driving force that enabled me to come to Georgia Tech from the University of Ottawa in July 1979. It has been my good fortune to have been associated and learned so much from what he taught me in Atlanta where I was till July 1982. The many lessons David has taught me and my memories of him and Shlomit will always...

David provided artists, musicians and other creative folk a glimpse into the wonderful world of physics (most of it over my head but fascinating), bringing together monthly gatherings (salons really) where rich exchanges of thought and performance left us all inspired. A one-of-a-king kind of guy.

David is etched in my memory! Even now I think of him often. One of the best events I recall is when he met my Dad who visited me in Atlanta during the spring of 1982. Later he visited my home in Hyderabad, India when he was visiting Professor B.G. Sidharth at the Birla Institute in Hyderabad. My brother Santosh picked him up at the Birla Institute and took him to our home there. My brothers there remember his visit fondly.
He has always been an inspiration to me.

Dr. David Finkelstein had a profound impact on many people through his kindness, his patience and his love of people. His great passion and gift for physics infected all of us whom he took under his wing, often despite some serious shortcomings. He always had time to coach, and support others. His answer to many of our questions about the foundations of physics were the most thought-provoking, yet simplistic in absolute form! Thank you, David and Shlomit for the love and care you shared with...

I had the good fortune of meeting David the first time at the American Inst. of Physics Conference in New York in 1979. He became a lifelong friend and mentor ever since. I joined as a Research Associate at the School of Physics, Georgia Tech, in July 1979 for two years working under his supervision. I was in touch with him for many years. He also visited the Birla Sciences Centre as well as my home in my home town of Hyderabad. I and my family have very fond recollections of this very great...

David Finkelstein was a Cosmologist.
Circa 1980, at an Atlanta social gathering, I was trying to make a historical point with him.

Arguing my case, I began saying:
"In the time of the Greeks ..."

he immediately corrected me:

"We are the Greeks!"