WILSON, Richard "Dick" Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics Emeritus at Harvard University, died on May 19, 2018, in Needham, MA. Dick will be remembered for his scientific work, student mentorship, principled humanitarian and environmental stands, and interdisciplinary connections across the globe. Dick was also a railway enthusiast, Morris dancer, concertina player, world traveler and hiker. Born April 29, 1926, in Putney, England, the son of Percy and Dorothy Kingston Wilson, Dick grew up in the Putney and Merton Park districts of London. He studied at London's Colet Court and St. Paul's Schools, evacuating to Crowthorne by bicycle during World War II. Dick earned his BA and DPhil at Christ Church, Oxford. He was a Guggenheim Fellow for post-doctoral work in the U.S. at Rochester University and then Stanford University, with Wolfgang "Pief" Panofsky. While at Stanford, Dick met Andree Desiree DuMond, marrying her after a brief courtship. In 1952, they moved to Oxford University for Dick's research lecturer position, and in 1955 to Cambridge, MA, for Dick's faculty position at Harvard. Dick specialized in experimental particle physics, studying the nature of the smallest particles that constitute matter, as they collide at very high velocities. Dick led the upgrade of Harvard's proton cyclotron to 160 MeV in order to study nucleon-nucleon interactions. With Harvard and MIT colleagues, Dick designed, constructed, and used the Cambridge Electron Accelerator (CEA) 6 GeV synchrotron, which, from 1962 on, further probed nucleonic structure. Dick was involved in constructing and using the new Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) in Batavia, Illinois, frequently "commuting" there from Harvard, to maintain close contact with students and research. At Fermilab, Dick continued the study of nucleonic structure with high-energy muon beams. When Harvard's cyclotron became obsolete for particle research, Dick helped adapt it for the treatment of cancerous tumors. He also studied electron-positron interactions with the CLEO collaboration at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR). Finally, Dick joined a research group using the intense polarized beam of the new Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) in Virginia. Dick went often to the USSR and Russia, believing that direct cultural and scientific contact was essential to prevent war. After the exile of dissident Soviet physicists, Dick boycotted USSR conferences, and was an early and visible supporter of Andrei Sakharov. Dick studied nuclear power safety and environmental carcinogens, such as asbestos. He visited Chernobyl after the nuclear accident, taking a PBS film crew with him. He studied arsenic in drinking water, and was especially proud of starting a program to provide safe arsenic-free water from a village-well in Bangladesh. Dick authored 935 scholarly papers and eight books. Dick remained devoted to Andree. They lived in Newton, MA for over 50 years, where Andree created an extraordinary garden retreat. They loved hiking and climbing mountains, often with their children. Dick loved to sing, recalling countless traditional British folk and music hall songs, and often accompanying himself on the concertina. His Harvard Physics Laboratory photo showed him dancing the Fools Jig with the Headington Quarry Morris Men in Oxford. Dick is survived by his brother Geoffrey, his sisters-in-law Alison Wilson and Adele Panofsky, and by his six children, A. Christopher (Rita McMahon), Michael (Lisa Greenleaf), Nicholas (Carol Anne Freeman), Elaine (Brad Farnsworth), Andre A. (Mary Frances Bond), Peter (Julie Whitmore); and three grandchildren, Benjamin Farnsworth, Irene Farnsworth (Matt Solimano) and Tyrone Whitmore-Wilson. He was predeceased by his wife Andree Desiree, and his brothers Arthur and Laurence. He is fondly remembered by devoted caregiver Mrs. Bethune Labeach, extended family, and his many students, colleagues, and friends. A memorial service will be held at the Harvard Faculty Club at 20 Quincy St., Cambridge, MA, on Sunday, June 24, 2018, at 1:00 PM, followed by a reception. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made in Dick's honor to American Friends Service Committee (www.afsc.org), Ingersoll Gender Center (ingersollgendercenter.org), or to the Newton Conservators Land Stewardship Fund (www.newtonconservators.org). Condolences may be posted to the guestbook at www.lehmanreen.com. Lehman Reen McNamara Brighton 617 782 1000

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Published by Boston Globe from May 29 to May 30, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for RICHARD WILSON

15 Entries

Frank Pompei

June 24, 2018

I met Dick in 1994 when I took his graduate course Risk Assessment in Engineering and Biological Systems as a Special Student preparing to apply for the Ph.D. program. Dick had an enormous range of research interests from which he chose examples for this course, which made the course one of the most interesting I have ever taken. Little did I know that this was only a small part of Dick's actual range of research interests.

Dick became my PhD advisor and thesis committee chair, and we agreed to focus on cancer as the general field for my research. It did not narrow things very much. We looked at modeling the role of chemical carcinogens in the environment and dose/response methods, with which Dick had a running battle with the EPA; cancer caused by radiation released by nuclear power plants particularly Chernobyl; arsenic in water supplies, cross-species scaling of carcinogen bioassays, anti-carcinogens that reduce cancer incidence, and many other aspects of cancer.

Ultimately we settled on carefully examining the largest effect on cancer by far age. Some evidence existed suggesting that the age distribution of cancer model developed in the 1950's by Sir Richard Doll, accepted science for decades in the cancer field, may not be correct at older ages. Since Sir Richard was very well known and respected in the cancer field, is credited with proving the link between smoking and cancer, a friend and colleague of Dick's at Oxford University, and very skeptical of our hypothesis, it made it all the more interesting and challenging for Dick and myself.

The basic idea of our work was contrary to the cancer dogma at the time that if you do not die of something else first, you will die of cancer. We found that the actual data and underlying science, which we modeled mathematically, show that cancer formation is profoundly reduced by the aging process itself - cancer incidence peaks at about age 80 and declines to zero at ages approaching 100.

After three published papers, a successful thesis defense, and completion of my PhD, we decided to continue the research to further explore this important new finding that would fundamentally change how the medical community views cancer at old age.

Our first view of that change came when we visited the National Institute of Aging in Washington, by invitation of a program director who had seen our work. It was clear to the NIA that our work would result in cancer being seen as less important in medical care at old age, thus less money appropriated by congress, and accordingly not at all interested in funding our work. Dick and I decided to press on without funding.

We wrote and published 15 papers on cancer over 18 years, changing the way the world looks at cancer at old age. The medical profession quickly adopted the idea that cancer declines at old age, since it comported with their own anecdotal experience cancer was increasingly rare and less of a threat as people aged beyond 80.

Dick sent regular updates in our work and newly published papers to Sir Richard Doll, until Sir Richard passed away in 2005. Even though we had convinced everyone else, Sir Richard remained skeptical.

Dick was active in our research group on cancer, based in the Harvard Dept of Physics, until a few weeks before he passed away. The other long term members of our group were Charles Harding, a former undergraduate student of Dick's; Dmitriy Burmistrov, a Russian immigrant physicist and mathematician recruited by Dick, and myself, Dick's last graduate student. We all miss Dick Wilson and are grateful for his contribution to our lives.

Francesco Pompei, Ph.D.
Associate of the Department of Physics
Harvard University
President and CEO, Exergen Corporation

A. Christopher Wilson

June 20, 2018

The obituary for Dicks' beloved wife, Andree Wilson, who died Oct. 15, 2016,can be found at https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/ANDREE-WILSON-obituary?pid=182061644

Virginia Chandler

June 18, 2018

Dear Chris and Family: I am saddened for you with news of your dad's passing; and hope your memories and the love you share will comfort you and give you peace. Your dad certainly was a talented and accomplished man in many arenas; and the loss is great. Thinking of you with love and admiration.

June 17, 2018

My sincere condolence to the family may you find comfort in the God of all comfort during this difficult time.

Charles Harding

June 14, 2018

It was a great pleasure to know Prof. Wilson and a privilege to participate in research with him. His encouragement and light-handed, wise advice motivated me through periods of self-doubt. I will especially remember him for his principled nature. Though many of us who participate in science are strongly committed to our beliefs, he stood out for the effort that he put into translating those beliefs into socially conscience action.

I'm reminded of this article in which Prof. Wilson describes his experiences after Chernobyl. It exemplifies much of what I admired about him: his insistence that the public deserves accurate information, his remarkable energy, and his understanding of the value of personal relationships across borders and political systems.

Wilson R. After Chernobyl: The life of a nuclear expert. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Apr. 26, 2011.

Although the link can't be posted here, the article can be found easily by googling.

My deep condolences to Prof. Wilson's family.

Yuko Hatano

June 12, 2018

Professor Wilson, thank you so much for your kind help at Harvard.

Adnan Shihab-Eldin

June 10, 2018

I received with great sadness the news of the passing away of the late Richard Wilson, or Dick as he was called by many of his friends and colleagues. He was indeed a great man in so many ways. A Renissance , giant and and prolific scientist, always there for all people and at all times, a great mind with the spirit of a saint. His love for science and people, and his unshakable believe in the common human values, which he practiced always to the fullest, had profound impact on his students, friends and colleagues, me included.

I was blessed to have met Richard Wilson in the early seventies, soonafter earning my doctorate degree from Berkeley. He and his wife welcomed young, and older, scientists from all over world to their house and into their hearts. I was one of those lucky ones who benefited much of his friendship and mentorship. He introduced me to many great scientists, numerous new scientific topics and great fora, like the annual WFS Seminars in Erice, Sicily. All had profound effects on me and have helped immensely in shaping my career and accomplishments. As he did for many scientists in need from the third and other parts of the world, he took me into his lab in 1990, when I became stranded in the US following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. He encouraged and helped me to continue to do science at times of personal hardship just like he did with so many other scientists from the Middle East, the former Soviet Union countries and other parts of the world, irrespective of country of origin, means or nationality.

I was lucky to have had a chance to visit him earlier in February of this year. Despite his age related illness, he received me with his usual warmth and we spent special precious moments, though we did not need to speak much. But I knew then that I may not have another chance. May his soul rest in peace knowing of the huge amount of love and admiration he enjoys from his family, his so many friends, admirers and colleagues all over he world.

Adnan Shihab-Eldin
The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences
Kuwait

Valery N. Soyfer, Distinguished University Professor Emeritus, George Mason

June 6, 2018

I knew Dich Wilson since 1988 when my wife, son and myself were oermitted by Gorbachev to emigrate to the USA from the USSR. Before that year I heard several times about Richard from Prof. Andrey Sakharov in Moscow. In USA we had many meetings and interesting discussions Richard was a great scientist with wide fields of interests. He was not only productive but extremely productive. He gifted me his memoires and I read it with great admiration. Please accept my deep condolences.

Antonina Bouis

June 1, 2018

It was a great honor and joy to share Dick's passion for justice and human rights. Please accept my sincere condolences. He was a great man, whose work with Russia and Bangladesh (among other places) was invaluable.

edwin farr

May 31, 2018

In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always. We have been honored to be your neighbor. Ed and Joy Farr

Daniel Kammen

May 31, 2018

Dick was a compassionate Department Chair when I was a new doctoral student, a creative post-doctoral advisor, and a friend from then on until his passing. He will be sorely missed, but remembered fondly for all that went into 'Physics is Fun', his delightful autobiography - which rang true to my memories of Dick and Andree. Thanks to all the Wilsons!

Annie Bond Fisher

May 30, 2018

Andre, Peter, and all the Wilson family, so sorry for your loss. Sending prayers and good thoughts your way.

Joyce Muriuki

May 30, 2018

I was shocked when I learned the death of Professor Wilson while preparing to go and tender him the care he so dearly needed and the Companionship I so loved walking with him in the premises. He was calm and charming man whom mind was obsessed with his Website and call in Conferences. I sincerely send my deep condolences to the late Families of Professor Wilson. May he rest in peace. He will be missed by many.

Susan Bangi

May 30, 2018

I was glad to meet Richard.in whichever circumstances i did,he was an awesome person

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