Dr. Vedat S. Arpaci

I am more than saddened by learning about the death of Prof. Arpaci. It has given me a lot of pain to learn this behindhand and coincidentally too; I regretted myself.

In 1987, I was admitted to the Graduate Program at the Faculty of Mechanical at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in the United States, where I went to pursue my master's education as a holder of the No. 1416 State Scholarship Program of the Republic of Turkey. In fact, thanks to his reference and insistence to the admission committee, I was able to start early at the winter Quarter, not the fall of that year. For this, I have always been grateful to him.

We used to chat in his room as much time. The taste is still in my palate. His worldwide dominance at his carrier is already obvious. But as an eldest in other than professional issues, I have never forgotten of the clues and warnings I have received about life from him.

When I graduated in 1988, I went immediately back to Turkey because of my J-1 visa status without having opportunity to say in person goodbye and thanks to him, since he was in New Mexico. Then we corresponded occasionally. But we didn't have the opportunity to see each other face to face again. I feel much regretful about it.

May Allah have mercy. Let him sleep in the lights. In my opinion, his place is heaven. Even though it is late, I wish my heartfelt condolences and patience to his esteemed family, relatives, and beloveds.

04/21/2025
Mete BAYSAL
Istanbul

I was deeply saddened by learning the news of the passing away of Prof. Arpaci. I had the pleasure of taking his courses and also working with him for a few years after getting my Ph.D. He was not only a great educator and expert in his field (heat transfer) but also a great human being. As a matter of fact, in my occasional conversations with him, he would take the pride of the latter. I have so many fun memories from him. May his soul rest in peace.

Sayin hocam, sizi ozlem ve saygi ile aniyoruz. -- Mehmet

I started grad school learning Conduction Heat Transfer through his wonderful book. Later on, I went to the U. of Michigan for my Ph.D. and had the utmost pleasure of taking two classes with him. He was also on my Ph.D. Committee. What a wonderful and most inspiring teacher he was. His lectures were brilliant, full of wonderful examples. I remember his figure walking through the North Campus, going from home to the GG Brown Labs.
After returning to Brazil, all my lectures were inspired by his views and my books reflect this. He was quite an inspiring person. Thank you so much, Dr. Arpaci. I am not sure I had the opportunity to do so. RIP.

I was his student in 1978, and a research collaborator (at NASA Microgravity fluids, Division of space Experimets;1988-2006). He was an outstanding teacher and a great researcher. I miss his very kind interaction with me as his student.

Dr. Nasser Rashidnia

Missing you more than you would have ever known.

-Lale

Professor Arpaci was one of the best teachers that I have had. I was his student from 1966 to 1970. He was demanding and expected the best in every student. May his soul rest in peace.

A member of my PhD committee in 1976. His insisting that you fully understood the foundations of the topic has stayed with me throughout my life. I knew many undergraduate students who did not appreciate this inspiring teacher. But those who got to know and appreciate him as graduate students will never forget. Rest in peace

Professor Arparci was on my PhD Committee and was always a very special friend and mentor.
I would like to send my deepest condolences to his family and friends.

I was one of his early doctoral students and remember vividly his wonderful lectures. It is often not much appreciated that great lectures inspire students to study hard and for this reason the inspiration is just as important as the subject matter a teacher transmits in his lectures. Vedat Arpaci did both of these admirably.

I was his student from 1967 to 1971. Very good teacher.
May his soul rest in peace.

DR. C. B. Baxi

My fleeting life has come and gone---
A wind that blows and passes by.
I feel it has been all too brief,
Just like the blinking eye.

To this true word God will attest:
The Spirit is the Body's guest,
Some day it will vacate the breast
As birds, freed from their cages, fly.

Yunus Emre


A distinguished giant passed away unexpectedly and quietly.

Some words that would describe Prof. Arpaci are:

Istanbul Efendisi (kind, gentleman of gentlemen), old-fashion, generous, wise, mentor, friend, modest, classy, highest standards, straight forward, considerate, caring, hardworking, and dedicated teacher and scholar.

Someone you wish you want to meet in life.

A wonderful, exceptional, sweet human being that both Ayse and I have the privilege to know.

Hocam, you touched our lives, you will always be in our hearts.

Respectfully, Ayse and Mehmet Uras Family

It was with a great sorrow that we learned the loss of Prof. Vedat Arpaci, my teacher, my mentor and my friend. As he has done with many others, his guidance and wisdom has helped shape my academic career as well as my life in US spanning more than four decades.

Even though we left Ann Arbor in 1980 we always kept in touch. It was always a delight to listen to him on any subject and I had the privilege of hearing his thoughts and insight. We used to reminisce fondly our memories from ITU, his and my alma mater, in many of my visits to Ann Arbor and in our frequent phone conversations.

Prof. Arpaci will allways be remembered as a great mind, an excellent teacher and, above all, a great human being who is loved and revered by others.

My wife, Zerrin, who also knew the Arpaci family closely from our time in Ann Arbor, and I extend our condolences to his daughter Lale, his son Remzi and immediate Arpaci family.

Erol and Zerrin Cesmebasi
Lyndhurst, New Jersey

It was with a very deep sorrow that we learned the loss of my teacher, mentor and friend Prof. Vedat Arpaci. As he has done with so many others, he has touched my life in such a way positive way that helped shape my academic career and my life in US for more than 40 years. Even though I left Ann Arbor in 1980 we kept in touch and I valued his opinion and advice on many things. We always fondly reminisced our memories from ITU, Prof. Arpaci's and my alma mater, in my visits to Ann Arbor and in frequent phone conversations.

Even though he is no longer with us he will always be remembered as a great mind, an excellent teacher and above all as a great person who is loved and revered by many others.

My wife Zerrin, who also knew the Arpaci family closely from our Ann Arbor times, and I extend our condolences to his daughter Lale, his son Remzi and the rest of the Arpaci family.

Erol and Zerrin Cesmebasi
Lyndhurst, New Jersey

Dear Vedat Hocam (my teacher), rest in peace.

You brought peace by helping me during one of the toughest times in my life.

You touched so deeply to the life of a young man, struggling whether he will be able to finish the graduate school, by offering a blank check to use for school fees if ever loses the scholarship. Never lost it and did not need the check, but this great gesture was so relieving, I was able to focus on my studies and get my degree.

Now twenty years later leaving in Switzerland with my wife, Merve and two daughters; Ipek (6) and Neva (3), I got the sad news in emotions with deep gratitude . Glad that I was able to visit you with Merve, pregnant to Ipek by then and thank you.

A great person with a big heart. Thank you very much. Blessed that our roads crossed. Rest in peace.

My condolences to the family and all the loved ones.
Allah rahmet eylesin.

Best Regards
Bahadir Pakis

We are very saddened to hear the loss of our teacher and our mentor Prof. Dr. Vedat Salih Arpaci. We celebrate his well lived life and treasure many memories while we were in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We will always cherish the time we spent listening to him and learning from him in classes, while chatting with him in the corridors and socializing with him and with his beautiful wife Niara. It is hard to believe that we lost him. We always thought he would live forever and we would see him again either in Ann Arbor, in Hawaii or in Turkey. He will always be in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. Our condolences to his daughter Lale, to his son Remzi, to his other immediate family, to his friends and his students.

Hocamiz huzur icinde yatsin ve hepimizin basi sag olsun.

I was very saddened to hear the loss of Professor Arpaci. He was a great scientist and teacher ; and also a kind and friendly person. I pass my condolonces to his family, friends and students. May God rest him in peace.

I am trying to teach a graduate level heat conduction course using Dr. Arpac's one of the legendary textbooks for the last four years.
In addition, I had the distinct opportunity to meet him in person. What a brilliant and gifted scholar. I am terribly sorry for his loss.

We are so sorry to learn of our father's death, Lale and Remzi. We have such fond memories of your family and the many years in our neighborhood.

I took two gradate courses, Radiative
Heat Transfer and Conduction,
from Professor Arpaci in late 60s,
a great teacher and a great researcher.

Verdat was a very special person. I was a student and faculty colleague of his for a number of years. He was also a neighbor here in Ann Arbor. My deepest condolences to all of his family. You have lost a very special person but his personal memories and great works will be with us for many years. My prayers are with you all as you grieve his loss. Dave Cole