Physics professor Barry Berman died July 19 after what William Parke, a fellow physics professor, called “a year-long and heroic struggle.” He was 74.
Berman – who taught in the physics department since 1985 and went on to serve as chair from 1993 to 1998 – was praised by his colleagues for accomplishments both in the field of physics, but also his compassion as a professor.
“Professor Berman brought prestige to GW through his personal accomplishments and through his continual effort to make GW a strong physics presence in the areas in which he was interested,” said Donald Lehman, the former executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “Professor Berman was an outstanding teacher, especially as a mentor of graduate students, and as a teacher of graduate students with respect to the basics of professional skills in research.”
Berman – who specialized in nuclear physics – had a prolific career in the field, as both a fellow of the American Physical Society and author or co-author of 244 publications in physics.
According to a tribute on the University’s website written by Parke, Berman was also an accomplished musician. One of his course offerings explored the physics of music.
Parke said Berman was working in his office on the Friday before his death to meet with his nuclear physics groups, which colleagues attribute to his love for his career.
“He devoted himself to physics and to leading the Physics Department toward the highest achievements possible,” Parke wrote. “With his perception, experience, and judgment, he knew what was needed to tease secrets out of nature, and to inspire others to do so.”
Lehman said he would routinely have lunches with Berman to discuss their mutual interest in physics and to raising GW’s profile in the field.
“I shall greatly miss those lunches, because they always were special and on a high level of intellectual discussion,” Lehman said. “He was a very special colleague and friend to me.”
– Emily Cahn contributed to this report