Fritz Luty

1928 - 2017

1928 ~ 2017
Fritz Luty died peacefully on September 11, 2017, from unknown causes. He was under hospice care, was sitting happily in his favorite place, the veranda of his beloved home, and died in his sleep without suffering.
Fritz was born in 1928 in Essen Germany, and grew up in Nazi Germany. At the age of 15 he was ordered to to join the German army, and saw action in an anti-aircraft unit. There he learned about the horrors of the concentration camps, a life-changing experience. After World War II, he studied physics, earning his Ph.D. from the University of Goettingen. He met his wife Uta in Stuttgart, where he worked as an assistant professor. Soon after, his sons Markus and Christoph were born, and he accepted a full professor position at the University of Utah. There he spent the rest of his career, authoring 188 research articles and supervising 20 Ph.D. students from all over the world. He held visiting positions in Italy, Brazil, Japan, China, and Germany. For his many contributions to the physics department and the university, he was named a Distinguished Professor in 1991.
Fritz loved nature and world travel, and he was an adventurous mountain climber in his younger years. He had collaborators and friends throughout the world, many of whom became honorary members of the Luty family. He was an avid gardener, and his beloved home with a spectacular view of the Salt Lake Valley was completed in 1978. For many years it was the site of countless gatherings of friends, the everyday joy of family life, and many rehearsals of his sons' bands. Fritz is survived by his sister Eva, his wife Uta and sons Markus and Christoph, and their families. He was a wonderful husband and father, and his family will miss him deeply.
Fritz touched many people in his long and eventful life. An informal gathering will be held on Saturday September 23 in his memory. If you would like to join us please send email to markus.luty@gmail.com.