JAMES D. KURFESS

1940 - 2015

KURFESS

James D.



James D. Kurfess, an internationally recognized authority in high-energy astrophysics research, died after an extended illness on October 27, 2015 in Columbia, Maryland. He was widely admired and respected by his colleagues for his leadership, development of gamma-ray instruments launched into space, and for the seminal observations that these instruments produced. He retired from the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, DC in 2007, where he spent virtually all of his scientific career.

James "Jim" was born November 8, 1940 to Margaret (nee Zingg) and John Kurfess and raised on the family farm near Perrysburg, Ohio. He graduated from Troy-Luckey High School in 1958 where he excelled in academics and athletics and was awarded a full tuition scholarship to the Case Institute of Technology, receiving a BS degree in Physics and MS and PhD degrees in Nuclear Physics.

Dr. Kurfess was preceded in death by his parents, John and Margaret Kurfess. He is survived by his wife, Mary Deffley Kurfess, of Gambrills, Maryland; his daughter, Victoria Kurfess Lobley of Hagerstown, Maryland; his son, Christopher Kurfess of Westminster, Maryland; his stepson, John Scaggs, of Gambrills, Maryland; his sister, Nancy Kurfess Johnson of Cleveland, Ohio; his brothers, Charles (Helyn) Kurfess and John D. (Ruth) Kurfess, both of Perrysburg, Ohio; and three grandchildren: Christopher Andrew and Sophia Lobley; and Leonard Kurfess Star.

In 1969, Dr. Kurfess joined the Space Science Division at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC where he spent his entire scientific career. At NRL he established and managed a productive research activity in observational gamma-ray astrophysics. Under Dr. Kurfess' leadership, the NRL team made significant contributions to Department of Defense and NASA space missions to understand the high energy radiation environment and the physics of the astrophysical sources of gamma-ray emitting objects.

In 1978, Jim was selected to be the Principal Investigator of the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment, one of the experiments to be placed on one of NASA's Great Observatories, the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. At the time, this observatory was the largest scientific spacecraft ever developed by NASA. The mission was launched in 1991 and re-defined our understanding of the gamma-ray universe.

Dr. Kurfess was a long-time member of the American Astronomical Society, the American Physical Society (where he was selected as a Fellow), the International Astronomical Union, and the Institute of Electric and Electronic Engineers. He served on numerous committees for Department of Defense and civilian agencies, including NASA and the National Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Kurfess was continually searching for new detector materials or measurement techniques that would probe more deeply into the gamma-ray universe. This research resulted in three patents and a publication record of over 180 articles. In a variety of management responsibilities for NRL's Space Science and Space Technologies research activity, Jim had a large influence on the direction and success of NRL's program.

Jim was a loving and beloved husband. He was a kind, generous, and surprisingly humble man, given the extent of his intellect, physical capabilities, and accomplishments. He delighted in his children, grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial gift donations may be sent to: Case Alumni Association 10900 Euclid Avenue, Tomlinson Hall - 109 Cleveland, OH 44106; The Kurfess Scholarship Fund at Eastwood High School or the donor's choice.