Ivan I. Mueller

About

Ohio State University

Ivan Mueller Obituary

Ivan I. Mueller, age 93, died peacefully April 12, 2023, at his home in Bloomfield, CT.

Born on January 9, 1930, in Budapest, Hungary to Irene and Laszlo. Ivan survived the Holocaust and later the Soviet Occupation. In 1956, immediately following the Hungarian Revolution, he escaped with his family to the West and made his way to New York City.

Ivan earned his PhD in Geodesy at The Ohio State University where he was offered a position upon graduation in 1960. As a professor and later Chairman of the Department of Geodetic Science, he advised PhD and masters students from around the world. During a career that spanned more than 30 years, Ivan authored five books and over 220 scientific papers and presentations. He founded the Center for Mapping at OSU and the NASA Center for the Commercial Development of Space on Real-Time Satellite Mapping. He was a humble recipient of many national and international honors and awards and was a member of several national academies of sciences.

Ivan met his wife Marianne in 1948, marrying her in 1950. Their first date, a concert conducted by Antal Dorati, was the prelude to a shared lifelong passion for opera, as well as orchestral and chamber music. Ivan loved taking pictures during extensive professional and personal travels around the world. He enjoyed reading, especially history. Mostly, he cherished family time spent in conversation. His children and grandchildren will forever remember his intellectual curiosity, encouragement of their dreams and personalities, and the special breakfasts he prepared just for them.

Ivan was known by family, friends, and colleagues around the world as a gentle and kind man with a clever wit and a twinkle in his eye. He is survived by Marianne; daughters Julianne and Lisa; grandchildren Natalie, Alison, Garrett, and Jacqueline; cousin Eva; and their families. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his memory be made to Chamber Music Columbus or The Metropolitan Opera.

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Published by Hartford Courant on Apr. 23, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Ivan Mueller

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10 Entries

Szabolcs Mihály

December 9, 2023

I bid my farewell to Ivan Mueller, the legendary transformer of geodetic science, internationally respected professonal man, the person with hospitality, wit and twinkles in his eye”. My sincere condolences to Marianne and the family.

Gabor Barsai

December 8, 2023

Thank you for all your kindness and hospitality. You will be missed so much.
Isten veled.

Athanasios (Sakis) Dermanis

June 7, 2023

I have spent four years in Ohio State University (1972-1974) studying geodesy as a PhD student under the guidance and protective wings of Ivan Mueller. My research supervisor was already a legendary figure in geodesy and earth sciences. His teaching and research helped our science to make a great pass from the classical era into the modern world of space technology. He strongly contributed to the transformation of the OSU Department of Geodetic Sciences into what could justifiably then characterized as the "Mecca of geodesy" in which "pilgrims" gathered from all over the world. In my relatively short stay, I had the chance to meet, get to know and be influenced by some of the most important geodesists of our time, like Helmut Moritz (1933-2022), Klaus-Peter Schwarz (1838-2012), Erik Grafarend (1939-2020) and Christian Tscherning (1942-2014), just to mention those no longer with us. With Ivan´s passing the geodetic world will never be the same as a chapter of pioneering scientific achievements has come to its conclusion.
One can hardly exaggerate the scientific contributions of Ivan Mueller. However, his influence as a teacher and person was in my opinion by far more important. His PhD and Master students have occupied influential administrative or academic positions all over the world and I am sure that they have all also being influenced by his teaching and mostly his personality as much as myself.
I arrived in Columbus, escaping from a repressive regime, the Greek military dictatorship, just like Ivan did less that twenty years before. Maybe this and our common interests in the arts - and music in particular - were the things that made Ivan to take me under his wings and grant me with an almost unlimited academic freedom in forming my study curriculum and research. I remember with nostalgia those years in the famous "slave quarters," as the student cubicle hall was affectionately called by us. I spent there four wonderful years of studying and learning under the watchful protective eye of our teacher.
Although sufficiently "Americanized," Ivan, a great lover of the arts and a passionate opera fan, seemed to be somewhat out of place in the cultural wilderness of the American Midwest. In my eyes he remained a European and most of all a citizen of the word.
Beyond teacher, Ivan has been a mentor and a fatherly figure with me. He helped make my first steps in geodesy and initiate a scientific career that led me to a full professorship at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, only six years after my graduation, where I still work as a Professor Emeritus.
After my graduation we had many chances to spend delightful times together, as colleagues and, I dare say, as friends.
Being a student of Ivan Mueller has been a life shaping experience for me. I will always remember him with warmth and gratitude.

John Robbins

May 8, 2023

Professor Mueller was most definitely "a gentle and kind man with a clever wit and a twinkle in his eye." I cherish the time I spent with him, as one of his students from 1981 through 1985.

To this day, my well read and marked up copy of his 1969 book, "Spherical And Practical Astronomy," graces my shelves. Some time ago, I inserted into the book, a copy of his most gracious reply to my sending him birthday wishes on his 80th birthday, in 2010. Another example was his response to having received the Waldo E Smith medal at the AGU 2002 spring meeting in Washington, DC (published in EOS). A true scholar.

His dedication to the promotion of science and love for the arts rubbed off on his colleagues and students. Ivan will always rank as one of the heroes that touched my life. Knowing and learning from Ivan, Urho Uotila and Dick Rapp was a tremendous gift that helped launch my career at Goddard Space Flight Center (along with many others).

My sincere condolences to Ivan's family. Please know that he will be remembered by many.

Kathy Kiss Webster

May 7, 2023

So sorry to hear the news of Ivan's passing. My sincere condolences to everyone in the family.

Alfred Leick

April 28, 2023

My sincere condolences to Marianne and the family. We have lost a great scientist, leader, teacher, communicator, and a very pleasant person. For almost a generation, Ivan was one of the leading forces in geodesy and satellite positioning, particularly during the early times when earth satellites started to transform geodesy. It is an honor to have been a student of his.

I met Ivan for the first time on January 3, 1973, two days after the 1973 Rose Bowl game, reading the campus newspaper, The Lantern, in his office. Having just arrived from Germany, no matter how hard he tried to make me understand what had just transpired at the Rose Bowl, neither Rose Bowl nor Football meant anything to me back then. In fact, in the pictures he showed me, the players looked like they were all wearing space suits.

Ivan was much more successful in designing my academic program. After I left OSU in 1978, I began an academic career of 34 years at the University of Maine. Thanks to Ivan´s guidance, I am one of those lucky people who can also call their job a hobby. The years at OSU were a life-changing experience for me. Thank you very much, Ivan.

Patricia Rapp

April 27, 2023

Ivan's wonderful life will be missed by so many across the world. He was truly exceptional.

Ruth Schwarz

April 27, 2023

I am sorry for your loss!

Kamil Eren

April 26, 2023

I was in OSU during 1974-1980. Dr. Mueller was a great teacher and friend during all this time. My most sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Ken & Jean Butler

April 23, 2023

Ivan´s and Marianne´s gracious friendship on our arrival in CT will be long-remembered, and their personal story inspiring.

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