Ismail Bektas Celik

Dr. Ismail Celik was my colleague and my friend for the last 38 years. His professional and academic legacy will last for his brilliance, his high ethics and for his scientific contributions, but it is the human side and wisdom that is a legacy for many generations to come. He touched many lives and we will forever honor his memory.... Our deepest and heartfelt condolences to his family...

I am deeply saddened to lose a long-time colleague who was a model in how to treat people with respect and politeness. Professor Celik was a top-notch researcher and academic, and his scientific contributions, especially in fluid mechanics, have enriched the literature. I have had the pleasure of serving with him on several technical committees within the Fluids Engineering Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in the 1990s and early 2000s. He will be sorely missed.
SA Sherif, Professor
University of Florida

I am sorry to hear of Dr. Celik's passing. He was passionate about his research and made many contributions to the CFD field. He was also good to his graduate students and always kept us funded, or as I used to say 'always kept us fed.' His legacy lives on in the many grad students he mentored at WVU. My condolences to his wonderful family. Rest in peace Doc.

To describe the impact Dr. Celik had on my life, I must first share a bit about my background. I grew up in a small village in the Kurdish region of Turkey where my family herded sheep. During my college years at Istanbul Technical University, I watched my friends prepare for their studies in the United States, but this was never a possibility for me due to financial limitations. However, through a mutual friend, I was introduced to Dr. Celik, who offered to help me pursue my education in the US. This was a seemingly impossible opportunity for me, but with Dr. Celik's guidance, I was able to become a professor in the US. Without his support, I would not be where I am today.

Dr. Celik was an incredibly ethical and respectful person, with a deep appreciation for all cultures. He welcomed students from all over the world into his graduate student office, where I made lifelong friendships. He personally taught me everything I know about computational fluid dynamics and numerical methods with such passion and dedication that it still resonates with me today. He was not just a teacher but a life mentor and father figure who showed me how to handle real-life situations.

In addition to his academic and personal guidance, Dr. Celik also welcomed me into his home and shared his love of music with me. I have fond memories of listening to him play the baglama and sing while enjoying Turkish tea after dinner. His passing has been devastating, but I know that he will rest in peace, and his legacy and work will continue to enlighten and inspire others.

Dr. Celik's passing saddens me deeply. He and I moved to Morgantown, WV, in the same year (1985), and we have known each other ever since. We collaborated closely on uncertainty quantification, one of his areas of expertise, about eight years ago, culminating in a joint journal publication in 2017. The CFD community will miss Dr. Celik. My heartfelt condolences to his family.

Dr. Celik left an ever-lasting impact on me. I'm fortunate to have benefited from his wisdom. My condolences to his family and the many others who mourn his passing.