It is with sadness that we inform you of the passing of former Institute of Materials Science (IMS) Director, Dr. Harris Marcus. Dr. Marcus earned his B.S. from Purdue University and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University. He served as Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin from 1975 to 1995 after a career in industry that included positions at Texas Instruments and Rockwell Science Center. He joined the UConn faculty in 1995 as Director of IMS.
During his tenure as Director of IMS, Dr. Marcus dramatically increased the infrastructure for research within IMS through the acquisition of major instrumentation for both soft and hard materials, and by rigorously recruiting excellent faculty members and graduate students to the University. His efforts led to significantly greater partnerships with industry and federal/state agencies for extramural support for research and development.
Dr. Marcus’s career was marked by numerous awards for excellence including the Von Karman Memorial Special Award for Outstanding Contributions to Aerospace and Structural Materials Technology in Past Decade, the Purdue University Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award, Northwestern University Alumni Association Award of Merit, and induction in the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering. He had well over 300 peer-reviewed publications.
Current IMS Director, Dr. Steven L. Suib, said in his remembrance of Dr. Marcus, “Dr. Harris Marcus was Director of IMS for 18 years. He was always interested in research and enthusiastically discussed his ideas with everyone. He made people laugh and was fun to be around. We will miss him dearly.”
Dr. Marcus was preceded in death by his wife, Leona Marcus. He is survived by his son, Leland Marcus, his daughter, Dr. M’Risa Mendelsohn, his son-in-law Michael Mendelsohn, and his granddaughter, Samantha Mendelsohn.
For these interested in sharing their personal condolences with the Marcus family, please reach out to Kate Cullen (Kaitlyn.cullen@uconn.edu) with the Institute of Materials Science for mailing information.
For more information, contact: Kate Cullen at Kaitlyn.cullen@uconn.edu