by Clifford Will, Physics Department Chairman

Joe was a distinguished scientist and outstanding faculty colleague and citizen. When Dick Norberg announced in 1990 that he would retire as department Chair, Joe was one of the first to come to my office to declare that I was clearly the only person with the qualities to take on the Chairmanship. I wasn't sure whether to be flattered by his confidence in me, or to punch him in the nose for wishing the horrible job on me! In the end, of course, I took the job, and found it both rewarding and challenging, and I hope that I lived up to Joe's opinion.