We are saddened to report that Emeritus Professor E. Russell Hardwick passed away on January 12, 2023, at the age of 100.
Professor Hardwick studied Business Administration at UCLA and was a member of the ROTC. Immediately after graduating in 1943, he went on active duty as an officer; he saw action and was awarded an ETO Medal Combat Infantry Badge and a Purple Heart. After returning from the war in 1946 he decided to take up a new interest – chemistry. Russ returned to UCLA in 1949 after receiving a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Colorado, began research in photochemistry with Professor William (Bill) McMillan, and completed his Ph.D. in 1954. After a year as a postdoc at the Canadian Research Council and four years at Stanford, he once again returned to UCLA, this time as an Assistant Professor. Remarkably, Russ immediately began to serve as department vice-chair with McMillan as chair. He continued in this position for six years during which time the department underwent major growth in size and academic stature.
Russ was a gifted and creative experimentalist and made substantial contributions to the fields of shock-wave kinetics, photostationary states, and flash photolysis, but he soon focused on education, with special interest in the teaching of non-science majors. He developed courses and wrote and co-authored three textbooks and a laboratory manual. Russ also accepted responsibilities outside the department, serving on numerous Academic Senate and administrative committees.
The Department expresses its condolences to Russ’s wife Pat, who like Russ has devoted herself to service at UCLA through her leadership roles in the Faculty Woman’s Club and Gold Shield.
By Professor Charles Knobler.
