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Charlie and Friends Of David Yount, Got a call yesterday from a mutual tennis friend informing me -- it is a real loss to all of us. David was a real pioneer and a good friend. We have had marathon sessions talking about bubble physics, quarks, partons, and University politics. I last saw him at the Smithsonian Institute Workshop 0n Reverse Profiles -- little did I think I wouldn't see him nor play tennis with him again. Modern diving owes him much, and I will miss all of his experimental insights into ticklish topics. And especially his dogged determination at all he did. Yes, a big loss for all of us. Excuse me, I am feeling very bad just now. Bruce Wienke >Colleagues, > >Please see the message received from Ron Nishi this morning about the death >of David Yount. A loss for all of us. -- Charlie > >>Charlie, >> >>I forgot whether you told me you were on the decompression elist >>(or whether I asked). Anyway if you are not, David Yount passed >>away last week after playing tennis. >> >>Ron >> >>>From: "Richard Pyle" <deepreef@bi*.or*> >>>To: "Decompression List" <deco@de*.or*> >>>Subject: Tragic Loss >>>Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 11:10:07 -1000 >>>Reply-to: deco@de*.or* >>>Sender: Maiser@de*.or* >>>X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook 8.5, Build 4.71.2173.0 (via Mercury/32 v3.01a) >>> >>>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 >>> >>>List subscriptions/removals should be sent to robworld@ad*.ne* >>>FTP site: ftp.decompression.org >> -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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