In Memoriam: Professor Emeritus C. Alden Mead (1932 – 2025)
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (2/27/2025) – The Department of Chemistry mourns the passing of Professor Emeritus C. Alden Mead, who passed away on Thursday, February 6th, 2025. Mead was a theoretical chemist whose pioneering work left an indelible mark on the field of chemical physics. His distinguished career, spanning over three decades at the University of Minnesota, was defined by his passion for research and mentorship.
Mead was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Webster Groves, where he developed a lifelong devotion to the St. Louis Cardinals and the game of baseball. His academic journey began at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1954. He then pursued a PhD in chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis under the mentorship of Professor Sam Weissman, completing his doctorate in 1957. Following postdoctoral studies at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York, he joined the faculty of the University of Minnesota’s Department of Chemistry in 1958, where he remained until his retirement in 1993.
Mead’s research spanned a broad range of topics in modern theoretical chemical physics. In his early years at Minnesota, he made fundamental contributions to the quantum theory of radiation-matter interactions, particularly in the study of line shapes. His work on measurement theory and the concept of a gravitational fundamental length was ahead of its time. Over the course of his career, Mead explored nonequilibrium statistical mechanics, entropy generalizations, and molecular quantum mechanics, making significant advances in each domain.
Among Mead’s most influential contributions was his work on the Born-Oppenheimer approximation and the geometric phase in quantum theory. His 1979 paper with Regents Professor Donald Truhlar on the geometric phase in molecular spectroscopy and dynamics became one of Mead’s most cited works, later expanded upon by Michael Berry in 1984. His 1992 publication in Reviews of Modern Physics further solidified his impact. In recognition of his contributions to group theory and molecular quantum mechanics, he was awarded the prestigious Wigner Medal in 2012.
Professor Truhlar writes, “It was a great privilege to have the opportunity to do research with Alden Mead. He was the world’s leading expert on the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, which plays a central role in spectroscopy and chemical dynamics, and he was a person of great rigor and integrity. He was the spiritual leader of the highly collegial theoretical chemistry group when I joined it, and I will always be personally grateful for the open-armed way that he welcomed me into the department. He is sorely missed.”
A gifted teacher and mentor, Mead’s courses ranged from freshman chemistry to the most advanced graduate seminars. During his tenure, he served as Director of Graduate Studies for both Chemistry and Chemical Physics. He also contributed to the field as an assistant editor of the Journal of Physical Chemistry and was honored as a fellow of both the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Professor Emeritus W. Ronald Gentry writes, “Alden Mead was scary smart. A theoretician of the first order, Alden required only a pencil and paper to pursue his research, which got too little recognition by most of his chemistry colleagues at the time.”
Outside the realm of academia, Alden was known for his sharp wit, encyclopedic knowledge of baseball and opera, and an appreciation for fine food, wine, and the perfect martini. He and his wife, Karin, were avid world travelers, exploring destinations around the globe. Friend and colleague Ron Gentry and his wife Caryl fondly recall their adventures together. “Alden and Karin were world travelers who visited just about every place you’ve ever heard of, including Timbuktu,” Gentry recalls. “In later years, Caryl and I enjoyed many trips with them, including expeditions to Indonesia, Cuba, Oaxaca and the Canadian Maritimes. What wonderful and knowledgeable travel companions!”
Though he has left us, Alden Mead’s mark on the department will be remembered. The Department of Chemistry extends heartfelt condolences to his wife, Karin, his daughters, Ora and Pamela, and all those who had the privilege of knowing him.