Obituary for Alan David Krisch
Alan David Krisch, age 81, of Ann Arbor MI, passed away on December 5, 2020, following a period of declining health. He was born on April 19, 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Kube and Jeanne (Freiberg) Krisch. He received a B.A. in physics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1960 and a Ph.D. in experimental high energy physics from Cornell University in 1964. Alan joined the University of Michigan Department of Physics in 1964 and was promoted to Full Professor in 1968. He was a Guggenheim Fellow (1971) and a Fellow of the American Physical Society (1976).
Alan was interested in the internal structure of the proton and in spin effects in high energy proton-proton collisions. He headed the U of M Spin Physics Center, with a research program that spanned labs in the US, the former Soviet Union, Japan and Germany. Alan’s research group led in the development of the world’s first high-energy polarized proton beam. He supervised 35 Ph.D. students and mentored more than 40 postdoctoral fellows in his group.
He was a founding member (1977) of the International High Energy Spin Symposia and always looked forward to attending the international meetings. Alan had a lifelong passion for travel, seeking out new places and often revisiting his favorites, including Protvino, Copenhagen, Geneva and Kyoto.
Alan is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jean; his daughter, Kathleen; and two brothers, Henry and Robert. Alan will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. The family would like to express their appreciation to the caring staff at Glacier Hills in Ann Arbor, to the Senior Helpers, and to St. Joseph’s Hospice.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.
Final arrangements are by Nie Family Funeral Home.
Alan was interested in the internal structure of the proton and in spin effects in high energy proton-proton collisions. He headed the U of M Spin Physics Center, with a research program that spanned labs in the US, the former Soviet Union, Japan and Germany. Alan’s research group led in the development of the world’s first high-energy polarized proton beam. He supervised 35 Ph.D. students and mentored more than 40 postdoctoral fellows in his group.
He was a founding member (1977) of the International High Energy Spin Symposia and always looked forward to attending the international meetings. Alan had a lifelong passion for travel, seeking out new places and often revisiting his favorites, including Protvino, Copenhagen, Geneva and Kyoto.
Alan is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jean; his daughter, Kathleen; and two brothers, Henry and Robert. Alan will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. The family would like to express their appreciation to the caring staff at Glacier Hills in Ann Arbor, to the Senior Helpers, and to St. Joseph’s Hospice.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.
Final arrangements are by Nie Family Funeral Home.