Our friend and colleague Masataka (Seth) Mizushima passed away on May 28, 2014. Seth earned a Degree Rigakushi (B.A/M.A) in Chemistry from the University of Tokyo in 1946, and Rigaku-Hakushi (Ph.D.) in Physics from the University of Tokyo in 1951. He served as a postdoctoral research associate at Duke University from 1952 to 1955, and joined the Department of Physics at the University of Colorado as a assistant professor 1955. At that time, the CU-Physics faculty was comprised of two professors, four associate professors, four assistant professors, and one senior instructor.
Dr. Mizushima was promoted to Associate Professor in 1958, and professor in 1960. He had a NIST research appointment from 1955-1969, and had visiting professor appointments at eight leading institutions around the world. Seth retired from the university in 1989. Nineteen students graduated with Ph.D's under his supervision and mentorship.
Professor Mizushima's research spanned a wide range of theoretical atomic, molecular and optical physics. Professor Mizushima published three research books, one textbook, one translated monograph, and 84 peer reviewed research papers in leading journals. Later in his career and after retirement, Professor Mizushima conducted research in astrophysics, general relativity, and cosmology.
Professor Mizushima is survived by his wife Yoneko, brother Kenji, five daughters and ten grandchildren.