Maurice Glicksman, 88

WARWICK, R.I. – Maurice Glicksman, Ph.D., died on May 26 at his home in Warwick. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Yetta Glicksman; his children, Howard and spouse, Lois; Roslynn; and Marcie and spouse, Scott. He is also survived by his sister, Gail, and spouse, Leon, and six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Dr. Glicksman was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1928, studied at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada and received a Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Chicago in 1954. His research career brought him to the RCA Laboratories in Princeton, New Jersey, from 1954-1969, with a four-year appointment as director of the RCA Laboratories in Tokyo, Japan, from 1963-1967. In 1969, he became university professor and professor of Engineering at Brown University, where he served over the course of his career at the university as dean of the Graduate School, dean of the Faculty and Academic Affairs, and ultimately as provost from 1978-1990. He retired to become professor emeritus of Engineering and Physics in 1994.

Dr. Glicksman served on the boards of over 20 different organizations with diverse missions, including science research, academic, library science, health care, religious observance and community service. In Princeton, he served as president and board member at the Princeton Jewish Center, and in Providence, he served on the board of Temple Emanu-El and the board of Hillel and Brown and the Rhode Island School of Design.

Also in Providence, he served as a member of the board at The Miriam Hospital and served as chairman during his tenure. He was also on the board of the Jewish Home for the Aged, Jewish Seniors Agency, and the Lifespan Corp. (including director). On the national level, he served on the boards of the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) of Dublin, Ohio, on the Fermilab Board of Overseers (including Chairman), and the National Council of Chief Academic Officers, the National Council on Education, and the Center for Research Libraries (including Chairman).

As a husband, brother, father and grandfather, he will be remembered as a man of unending curiosity about the world, unparalleled ethical principles and a sharp intellect that kept everyone who was engaged in conversation with him at the ready to expect well-developed ideas about current political events, the Yankees’ baseball season, family or friends’ major life events and challenges, or advice about school or work decisions relating to his own experiences. Family was always a priority, evident through his generous contributions to his children and grandchildren’s education or the instant broad smile on his face when his infant great-grandchildren were placed in his arms.

Contributions in his memory can be made to Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, or Jewish Seniors Agency of Rhode Island.