TOMIZUKA, Carl Tatsuo
May 24, 1923 - August 9, 2017
After an extraordinary life spanning 94 years, and a prolific career in physics and related fields, Carl Tomizuka succumbed to the complications of a fall and parted this life at his home in Tucson. He was born in Tokyo to Hatsu (Tamaru) and Tatsuzo Tomizuka, and survived the great earthquake of 1923 and the firebombing of Tokyo during World War II to graduate from Tokyo University as a top student in physics. After the war he was selected from a competitive field of 7,000 students in Occupied Japan for a GARIOA fellowship (precursor to the American Fulbright Award) for study in the United States. Assigned to the University of Illinois, he earned his Masters and PhD in Physics, and became a professor at the University of Chicago. His specialty was the physics of solids at high pressure. He conducted experiments in the precise measurement of the rate of atomic motion in solids using radioactive tracers, and was known for personally calibrating a platinum thermocouple, now known as the "Tomizuka-standard standard thermocouple." The University of Arizona recruited him in 1960 to join the first set of nationally acknowledged research scientists to build up the reputation of their physics program. There he made significant contributions to the department, was awarded for his creative teaching, served as Head of the Physics Dept., and later became Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. It was a time of exceptional collegiality, with many professors bonded not only by their extreme passion for physics and encouragement of their students, but also by the department's regular multi-family camping trips to Rocky Point. With funding from the Dept. of Defense, Dr. Tomizuka was part of a trio that pioneered the teaching of introductory physics and "exotic" foreign languages such as Navajo, employing language-independent software, a program still in use across the nation. After retirement Tomizuka worked as a consultant on an international patent team comprising of Research Corporation Technologies of Tucson and Miyoshi & Miyoshi Law Firm of Tokyo, successfully negotiating patent settlements with major Japanese electronics companies for their use of nickel metal hydride battery technology for powering hybrid cars. He was a staunch atheist and a supporter of women in science. He was a dedicated father and could be seen stroke-and-turn judging at swim meets and coaching soccer games. A creature of habit, he enjoyed always the same hotel in San Diego, and was a loyal patron of his favorite Costco store on Grant, his favorite sushi chefs, and his favorite seats at the Opera. Carl is survived by second wife and sometime co-author Sheila Tobias, as well as first wife, Karyl Tomizuka and their children: daughter, Mari; three sons, Frank (Kim Fitzpatrick), David (Adriane Hofmyer), John (Paula Zandomeni) and 11 grandchildren, all of Tucson. A public Celebration of his Life will take place Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. in his old classroom (PAS 201) in the Physics Department at the University of Arizona. The Tomizuka Award for Excellence has been established to support undergraduate physics majors at the University of Arizona. Memorial contributions may be made to: UAF/Tomizuka Award for Excellence c/o Department of Physics, University of Arizona, 1118 E. Fourth St., P.O. Box 210081, Tucson, AZ 85721. Arrangements by EAST LAWN PALMS MORTUARY.