For those who haven't heard, I thought I would forward this message to this
list. David Yount was the man behind the Varying Permeability Model of
decompression theory, which is what has evolved into the RGBM that we know
and rely heavily on today. 

Don

It is with great sadness that I transcribe for you the following article
that appeared on page B-1 of the this morning's "Honolulu
Advertizer" newspaper:

*********************************************************

David Yount, UH physics and astronomy professor, dies at 64

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

David Yount, a University of Hawaii physics and astronomy professor,
former UH vice president and author of the best-selling book "Who Runs the
University? The Politics of Higher Education in Hawaii, 1985-1992," died
Thursday after suffering an apparent heart attack while playing tennis.

Yount, 64, was playing a second set at the Hawaii Tennis Academy in Aina
Haina when he collapsed as he retrieved a ball, said his wife,
Christel. In the past few years, the United States Tennis Association had
ranked Yount one of the top Hawaii tennis players in the 60-and-over age
group.

"He lived every day as if it were his last," Christel said. "I played
tennis with him for 25 years and he played every set as best as he
could. He lived his whole life like that. It's incredible how complete his
life is."

UH President Kenneth Mortimer yeterday called Yount "a highly respected
researcher and teacher and a valued administrator who always worked in the
best interestes of the University of Hawaii."

Former UH President Albert Simone appointed Yount vice president for
research and graduate education in January 1986.  Ten years later, Yount
was back teaching when he published "Who Runs the University?," a
behind-the-scenes account of the personalities and egos that helped shape
UH during parts of the Simone and Mortimer eras.

"I am aware," Yount wrote in the book's preface, "that some parts of this
work may be controversial and that my willingness to expose the politics
of higher education to public scrutiny is already sufficient to exclude
me from further participation in academic administrations, old-boy
networks, and other well-meaning conspiracies in Hawaii."

Yount was born in Prescott, Ariz. He earned a bachelor's degree from
Cal-tech in 1957 and master's and doctor's degrees from Stanford
University.

He began his teacher career in 1962 as an assistant professor at
Princeton University. He joined UH in 1969 as an associate professor of
physics. In the decades that followed, Yount became the department
chairman, acting assistant vice president for academic affairs and vice
president for research and graduate education. He authored or co-authored
more than 150- research papers in the fields of high-energy physics,
diving medicine, acoustics and surface chemistry.

Yount is survived by his wife, Christel, and children, Christine, Gregory,
Sonja and Steffen.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. next Saturday at Calvary by
the Sea in Aina Haina.

*********************************************************

Some personal notes:

I first became aware of Dr. Yount's work while I was still in high school,
and begining to extend my diving depths.  A friend showed me a University
of Hawaii newsletter that described his concepts of decompression, and how
changing the shapes of decompression profiles could allow divers to reduce
the chances of getting the bends without extending the time spent in the
water.

I didn't think much about the article until years later, when I first saw
him deliver a presentation at the AAUS meeting held in Hawaii.  Through
his presentation at that meeting, I was finally able to understand a
rational, scientific basis for why I consistently felt better after
decompression dives when I included additional deep decompression
stops. He instantly joined the short list of people I regard as a
personal hero.
 
Inspired by his insight, I feverishly read any of his diving-related
publications that I could get my hands on. I even bought entire books just
because they contained a single article on the VPM model authored by him.

As an undergraduate at the University of Hawaii, I enrolled in a course on
diving medicine, and was excited to see in the syllabus for the course
that Dr. Yount would be giving a guest lecture later in the semester, on
the topic of bubble physics in relation to decompression.  Unfortunately,
the date of his lecture coincided with a period when I was away on a trip,
and thus I missed the opportunity to meet him in person.

In the years that followed, I often saw him walking across the UH campus
and was always tempted to go introduce myself to him, but my own
insecurity always got the best of me.  I even saw him once at a Galic
music concert, but still couldn't muster the courage to go introduce
myself. I rationalized that our paths would eventually cross some day.

When this email list first began, I saw an opportunity to make his
acquaintence (electronically, at least).  I looked up his email address on
the UH web site, then wrote him a short note to introduce myself, and to
invite him to join the list that was then called the "VPM" list in
reference to his major contribution to decompression theory.  I was
delighted when he expressed interest, and have since consistently enjoyed
his contributions to this list (as I'm sure all of us have). I was excited
to see that his research was finally being recognized on larger scales; a
testament to a man ahead of his time.  I sensed from his contributions to
the list a similar sense of excitement on his part as well.

It wasn't until just a month or two ago that I finally got my chance to
meet the man in person.  My wife and I attended a public presentation at
the University of Hawaii by Dr. Jared Diamond, and I noticed that Dr.
Yount was also in the audience across the room from us.  Throughout the
presentaion, I gathered as much courage as I could and resolved to
introduce myself.  As soon as the presentation ended, I bounded from my
chair and intercepted him on his way out.  I nervously fumbled through an
introduction and was greatly relieved when a warm and sincere smile of
recognition came across his face.  As the rest of the audience filed by,
we had a brief but wonderfully engaging conversation, and we agreed to get
together again soon under circumstances more conducive to a social and
intellectual exchange.  It was the last time I ever saw him.

As you can see from the newspaper eulogy included above, Dr. Yount lived
an amazingly full life.  His pioneering contributions to decompression
theory so highly revered by all of us on this list, are but a footnote
among the vast volumes of accomplishments and facets of his life, both
professionally and personally.

I will always regret not stopping by his office sooner to have a
chat.  But I am comforted by the certainty that his name, and his
contributions to diving, will be remembered by members of this list, and
by generations of divers to come.

Aloha,
Rich

-- 
Richard Pyle
Ichthyology, Bishop Museum                deepreef@bi*.or*
1525 Bernice St.                          PH: (808) 848-4115
Honolulu, HI 96817-2704                   FAX: (808) 847-8252



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