James W. Overbeck

James Overbeck was a brilliant scientist. At MIT he made important contributions to the development of x-ray astronomy. In a much cited 1965 publication in the Astrophysical Journal he predicted that the scattering of x-rays by interstellar dust would produce x-ray halos around x-ray stars. His observations with instruments carried aloft by balloons were among the first to demonstrate the extreme variability of x-ray stars.

How terribly sad to hear of Jim's passing. A wonderful friend and mentor he was to so many, including Sigma Chi brothers from several years after his own undergraduate days at MIT.

Not to make light of his death, I suspect Jim's departure to the Chapter Eternal happened at exactly twenty minutes after the hour, in accordance with his own Theory of the Overbeckian Pause, the truth of which so many of us Brothers experienced in the dining room at 532 Beacon.

Jim will be...

Jim Overbeck was the spirit of Sigma Chi at MIT in the early 60's even after he graduated. He spent time helping and encouraging those of us undergraduates who came after him. He will be remembered and missed.

It sounds like Dr. Overbeck was quite a guy. I loved the story about the birds. Something like that happened to me. My condolences to the family.

Whenever a short pause in the conversation among friends occurs, I am reminded of my days at Sigma Chi and Jim and his famous Overbeckian Pause. I have attached a photo of Jim and Ann with the Hanssons and the Ippens, and Mac Holzer taken at our mini-reunion in 2006.

In my life there are a few islands of human caring and human ability. Jim Overbeck was one of these islands. Without question, I would not have graduated from MIT without Jim's help. He always helped without reservation; the breadth, depth and clarity of his understanding was without parallel. Though I have only seen Jim once since graduation, he has remained in my mind and heart every day.

His family can be proud of the man and friend that he was. You have my sympathy.

My deepest condolences to wife Ann and to Jim & Ann's three sons. I read the obit and longed to know more.

It is hard for me to recall my years at MIT and the Sigma Chi house without thinking of Jim Overbeck, the guy who single handedly helped more underclassman in the house get thru physics and math than anyone else. One climbed the ladder of help and at the top was Jim who was never too busy to explain and never lacking a solution. If you couldn't crack that integral in...