Arnold Russek

In Memory of Arnold Russek

Born July 13, 1926, in New York, New York.

Departed Tuesday, October 13th, 2020.

Arnold Russek passed away peacefully at the age of 94, surrounded by his loving family. Arnie married Bernadette Scarlato in 1956, and they raised three children: David, Stephen, and Leslie. Arnie had four grandchildren: Maia, Danielle, Hannah, and Max. Arnie was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, and is remembered for how generously he gave love and time to his family. He made the best coffee, anywhere, and never said "no" to a bowl of ice cream. He was a skilled wood-worker, who built and rebuilt several houses. He was a master of the New York Times crossword, which he would do in pen, starting at the top left corner and working down. Mostly, he was always available for family, for both the big things and the little things. He was the rock that people could depend on.

He earned his PhD at the Courant Institute at New York University in 1953, and taught physics for 40 years at the University of Connecticut, having Professor Emeritus status when he retired. He is remembered by many of his students as not only an excellent teacher and communicator but also a kind and supportive teacher and mentor.

As a theoretical atomic physicist, he was respected world-wide, and had collaborators in a number of countries. He was invited to give physics talks at conferences around the world, and often took his family travelling with him. He published more than 50 scientific articles in his career, and contributed to several physics textbooks.

As a young man of 18, he served honorably as a radio engineer in the Pacific during WWII on an LSM bound for Japan. He sometimes described how he was one of the first sonar/radar engineers, operating this new technology.

In addition to his many accomplishments, he was a man of great integrity - always honest and direct, trustworthy and kind. He made the world a better place for his family, his many physics students, and for all who interacted with him. He will be missed.

Please share memories or thoughts with the family on this website. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a donation to City College of New York, NY, where he earned his undergraduate degree (https://giving.ccny.cuny.edu/donate) or Friends of Blackstone School, Boston, MA, which he supported for many years (https://www.friendsofblackstoneschool.org/).