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In Memory of Petra Udelhofen

IIt is with great sadness that I tell you that the SPARC Data Center Scientist, Dr. Petra Udelhofen suddenly passed away on Friday evening, May 17, 2002, after being taken to the hospital in septic shock. Petra was in charge of operations at the SPARC Data Center for about 3 years, since its beginning. She also worked with Bob Cess on climate and atmospheric radiation research at Stony Brook during this time. Petra received her Ph.D. from the University of Cologne and previously had held positions at the University of Washington, at the University of Georgia, and in Melbourne, Australia. Her parents, a brother, and a sister in Germany survive her. Her colleagues, relatives, friends, and the entire SPARC community will sorely miss her. Petra would have had her 42nd birthday on Tuesday, May 21.

Given the remarkable personal resources that Petra put into the SPARC Data Center, few could appreciate the modest material resources that were behind the Data Center. The SPARC community will miss Petra a great deal. We have all benefited greatly by her efforts. I know you all join me in expressing condolences to her family and others who knew and loved Petra.

A memorial fund is being set up in Petra's name at Stony Brook to benefit undergraduate students majoring in Atmospheric Sciences and Environmental Studies. Petra taught courses in both courses of study. Those who wish to donate to this fund can contact me about details.

Marvin A. Geller

SPARC Co-chair

 

The SPARC Office received many messages expressing their emotion in reaction to this dramatic news, among them the following one from her doctoral advisor Pr. Ehrhard Raschke

 

Dear colleagues,

A few days ago I learnt the sad news that Dr. Petra Udelhofen, responsible now for your Data Center, has died suddenly. I was her doctoral advisor in the early nineties at the GKSS Research Center in Geesthacht, Germany, and was always impressed about her positive and quite relaxed attitude towards life. She was extremely smart in rational scientific thinking and made successfully her way from Germany to the US, Australia and later back to the US, where she finally had a chance to settle. Our scientific interest was always quite close; a few weeks ago we had some discussion about her latest work on the relation between cloudiness and "cosmic influences", a hot issue in the climate debate. I had also several chances to meet her at different scientific meetings.
I am sure, that Petra left very many friends behind who will keep Petra in their memory with best thoughts. SPARC lost an active person in its infrastructure and scientific work.

Yours Sincerely
Professor Ehrhard Raschke