Frederick Matsen

F.A. Matsen II Frederick Albert (Al) Matsen, Professor Emeritus of Chemsitry and Physics at the University of Texas at Austin, died on May 30, 2006. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 68 years, Cecelia Kirkegaard Matsen in January of this year. He is survived by two children, his son Frederick Albert (Rick) Matsen III and daughter Megan Cecelia Meisenbach, Rick's wife Anne Lovell Matsen, their children Susanna Lovell Matsen, Frederick Albert Matsen IV, Laura Jane Megan Matsen and his son-in-law Albert Meisenbach. He was born on July 26, 1913 in Racine, Wisconsin to Danish immigrant parents Frederick Albert Sr. and Karen Madsen. Al was the only surviving child of his seamstress mother and his barber father. He was the first college graduate in the family, earning his BS degree from the University or Wisconsin in1937. He went on to complete his PhD in both Chemistry and Physics at Princeton University. After one year at Bucknell University as an Associate Professor, he joined the staff of the University of Texas at Austin where he did research and taught for over 50 years. In 1950 he received a Guggenheim Fellowship to Oxford, England where he studied under the renowned Professor Charles Coulson. In 1961 he received a National Science Foundation Senior Post-doctoral Fellowship to the Institute Henri Poincaré in Paris, France. There his paper entitled "Sous-Algèbre de Complexes Associés in Spectropscopie Théorique" was communicated to the French Academy by the Nobel Laureate Prince Louis Broglié. He published over 200 papers and was the author or co-author of six books: Premedical Physical Chemistry (with Hackerman and Meyers (1950); Quantum Chemistry Integrals and Tables (with Miller and Gerhauser); Vector Spaces and Algebras for Chemists and Physicists (1970); The Unitary Group in Quantum Chemistry (with Ruben Pauncz, 1968); Algorithms, Architectures and Scientific Computation (with T. Tajima) and Science Tales, a popular overview of the greatest accomplishments in science. He pioneered a unique undergraduate honors chemistry course called Theories of Matter, where for over 40 years he taught graduate level quantum chemistry to interested entering freshmen. He was the pivotal force in convincing the administration to establish UT's first computer center at Welch Hall in 1950 with an IBM Card Programmed Computer. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and a member of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science. He was an Exxon consultant for 35 years, helping to develop the processes for the liquefaction and gasification of coal. He was a valued advisor to Professors John Silber and Norman Hackerman during their administrative careers at UT. Professor Matsen personally endowed two graduate fellowships in Physics and Theoretical Chemistry. In 1988, colleagues, family, friends and former students endowed a Regents Lectureship on Theories of Matter to honor Matsen's outstanding contributions in research and teaching. He pursued an athletic life as a tennis player, mountain climber (he climbed Mt. Blanc in France) and skier. He was deeply interested in classical music. He was an active member of Saint Martin's Lutheran church for many decades. He was always grateful for the privilege and high intellectual adventure of being a scientist. This dedication to science and university life colored every aspect of his life. He was a consummate professor, husband, father, grandfather and father-in-law. His intellectual depth, integrity and strong life force has left an enduring impression on all of us who were blessed to know him. May he now be gathered into glory. Services will be held this Saturday, June 3rd at St. Martin's Lutheran Church, 606 west 15th at 2PM. Burial at Austin Memorial Park and Reception back at the Church will follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Martin's Music fund or the F. A. Matsen Endowed Regents Lectureship on the Theories of Matter at the University of Texas at Austin, Depts. of Chemistry and Physics.