Monday, April 16, 2012

David J. Axon Memorial Fund


We will be establishing an endowed fund in David's memory, which will directly benefitRIT students.

To make a donation in memory of David Axon, please prepare a check to “RIT” and on the memo line of the check designate your gift to the “David J. Axon Fund.” This fund will be used to enhance the college experience for RIT students. Donations may be sent to: RIT, Office of Development, 116 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623-5608.

Professor David John Axon, Ph.D. 1951 – 2012

David Axon will be remembered as one of the most versatile, creative and respected astrophysicists of his generation. He was also apassionate educator and tireless in his efforts to enhance the student’s experience of higher education.

Born in Doncaster in the county of Yorkshire, England, to an English father and Welsh mother, David possessed a formidable combination of sharp intelligence, Yorkshire determination and Welsh “hwyl”[1]. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of Durham in 1972, and in 1977, completed his Ph.D. at the same institution under the direction of Sir Arnold Wolfendale, FRS. He subsequently held research fellowships at the University of Sussex, University College London and the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge. In 1983, he was appointed to a faculty position at the University of Manchester, where he taught Physics and carried out research at the Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratory at Jodrell Bank. He attained tenure at Manchester in 1986. In 1993, David took leave from the University to take up an appointment at the SpaceTelescope Science Institute in Baltimore, MD, where he was the instrument scientist responsible for the NICMOS near infra-red camera aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. He returned to Manchester in 1998 but the following year was appointed Professor and Head of the Department of Physical Sciences atUniversity of Hertfordshire.