Paul Michael DeLuca Jr.

Paul Michael DeLuca, Jr.

PITTSBURGH, PA - Paul Michael DeLuca, Jr., age 79, died on October 30, 2023.

Born in 1944 to Dr. Paul and Dorothy DeLuca in Troy, NY, he was predeceased by his parents, his sister JoAnn DeLuca Beall, and his brother Al DeLuca.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Florence; his children: Paul DeLuca (Kerry), and Kelly King (Jason); and his cherished grandchildren: Molly, Patrick, Colleen, Ryan, Thomas, and Benjamin. He is also survived by his siblings: Lynda DeLuca, John DeLuca (Carole), Susan DeLuca, and Lisa DeMars (David); as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

After receiving a BS in physics and mathematics in 1966 from LeMoyne College, Paul was subsequently awarded a Ph.D. in nuclear physics from the University of Notre Dame in 1971. He joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was appointed to the faculty of the Department of Radiology in 1975. He served as chairman of the Department of Medical Physics (1987 - 1998), Associate Dean for Research and Graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (1998 - 2000), Vice Dean of the Medical School (2000 - 2009) and Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2009 - 2014). During his long career, Paul held an appointment as professor in the departments of medical physics, radiology, human oncology, engineering physics and physics.

Paul was an internationally recognized expert in high-energy particle radiation effects on humans. Among other accomplishments his research included creation of one of the world's most intense sources of fast neutrons, establishing microdosimetry as the definitive technique for determining high energy neutron kerma coefficients, investigating the biological response of various cell-lines to fast neutrons, very low energy photons, and mixed fields of neutrons and photons to explore the fundamental response of cells to ionizing radiation, and determining comprehensive neutron kerma coefficients using pulsed beam neutron time of flight techniques.

Paul received many honors, including the William D. Coolidge award from the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) in 2016 and the UW Medical School Folkert O. Belzer Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. Paul was a Fellow of AAPM and was the 2007 UW Rennebohm Research Professor. Paul served in many capacities with national and international organizations including the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements, the Nonproliferation and International Security Division Review Committee at Los Alamos National Laboratory, the AAPM, the American Physical Society, the Health Physics Society, the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, the Council on Ionizing Radiation Measurements and Standards, and the Institute of Physics.

Paul enjoyed annual beach vacations, holidays and family celebrations with his kids and grandkids. He and Florence traveled extensively including trips with friends Jerry and Amy Nickles as well as vacations with his sister-in-law, Mary, and her husband, Don Friedrich.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Saint Vincent Basilica, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA, 15650, on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Vincent Cemetery.

Per the family's wishes, in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Paul DeLuca, PhD, Scholar Fund (https://secure.supportuw.org/give/?id=1f215ef1-5348-4de9-baea-8a2f6bc3904f) at the University of Wisconsin Foundation.

Arrangements are being handled by the Lopatich-Brinker Funeral Home, LLC, 601 Weldon Street, Latrobe.

To sign the online guest book, send condolences, or share a story, please visit www.lopatichbrinker.com.