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In Memoriam: Kenneth Teegarden,
Feb 01, 2018
Kenneth Teegarden, OSA Fellow and former Director of the Rochester Institute of Optics, passed away on 1 February 2018 at the age of 89. Teegarden was an expert in solid state physics, particularly the interaction of light with glass, semiconductors, and other materials.
Teegarden did his undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago and received his PhD in Physics in 1954 from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Following graduation, he became a research associate at the Institute of Optics, where he would ultimately spend his career. Teegarden was promoted several times, including assistant professor, associate professor with tenure, and full professor in 1966. He was with the Institute of Optics for over 60 years and at his retirement in 2015, he was awarded the status of professor emeritus. In 1981, Teegarden was made the Director of Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester, a position he held until 1987. He also served as Director of the Center for Advanced Optical Technology, and led the Rome Laboratory Photonics Center at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, NY. Teegarden was President of KJT. Inc.
He was survived by his wife of 59 years, Judith, children, and grandchildren. OSA and the scientific community mourns the loss of Kenneth Teegarden.