Stephen G. Gasiorowicz

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Gasiorowicz, Stephen G. Age 88, of Mpls., died peacefully on June 3, 2016. Born in Poland in 1928, Stephen and his family fled the Nazi invasion in 1939, escaping to India where they lived until 1946 when they immigrated to California. He earned his Ph.D. in theoretical physics at the University of California-Los Angeles, where he met and married Hilde, his beloved wife of 63 years. In 1961, he joined the University of Minnesota-Department of Physics where he worked until 2001. Stephen was known as a gifted professor and author of several physics textbooks, including "Elementary Particle Physics" and "Quantum Physics." He was also instrumental in the creation of the William I. Fine Theoretical Physics Institute (FTPI), an internationally renowned physics research center. In retirement, Stephen became a popular teacher at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). In his later years, he had the great joy of reconnecting with his half siblings and their families, now living Europe and the UK. Stephen was a kind and modest man, a loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle, an intellectual and a "mensch." He loved history, travel, theater, music, Scrabble and stinky cheese. His magical bedtime stories and wickedly funny puppet shows will be forever cherished by his family. In addition to Hilde, he is survived by his sister, Anita; daughters, Nina McGehee (Rex), Cathy (Bob Beverage) and Mari; grandchildren, Hannah and Rebecca McGehee, Kyle Gasiorowicz and Eliza Scholl; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations can be made to Planned Parenthood, Doctors Without Borders or the charity of your choice.

Published on June 12, 2016