In memoriam: Daniel D. Joseph
Professor Emeritus Daniel D. Joseph passed away on May 24, 2011. He was a world-renowned expert for more than three decades in fluid mechanics, retiring in 2009. He was 82.
Joseph was a professor of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics at the University of Minnesota since 1963, where he served as the Russell J. Penrose Professor and Regent's Professor. In addition, he was a Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Irvine and an Honorary Professor at Xi'an Jiaotong University of China.
During his career, he authored 10 patents, 400 journal articles and six books. He was a Guggenheim Fellow; a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; G.I. Taylor Medalist, Society of Engineering Science; a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS); and winner of the Timoshenko Medal of the ASME, the Schlumberger Foundation Award, the Bingham Medal of the Society of Rheology, Fluid Dynamics Prize of the APS, Professional Achievement Awards from Illinois Institute of Technology and University of Illinois and the Distinguished Service Award from the U.S. Army. He was also listed in the Thompson Scientific-ISI Highly Cited Researchers.
Joseph was born in Chicago, IL March 1929. He attended Sullivan High School and earned an M.A. at the University of Chicago. He attended the Illinois Institute of Technology where he received a B.S., M.A,. and in 1963 completed a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. He began his academic career in 1962 as an Assistant Professor in mechanical engineering at IIT.
In 1963, he joined the faculty at the University of Minnesota in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics Department as an Assistant Professor where he remained until his retirement in 2009. He became a full professor in 1968. He was the Russel J. Penrose Professor from 1991 through 2001 and was a Regents Professor at the University from 1994-2005.
During his illustrious career, Joseoph received many awards including membership in all three national academies: Arts & Science, Engineering, and the National Academy of Science. He was awarded the GI Taylor Medal, the Guggenheim Award, the Timoshenko Medal plus others. He was a sought after speaker at conferences around the globe. Dan was a visiting professor in countries in Europe and Asia and an adjunct professor at the University of California Irvine.
He wrote and edited books on his technical subjects and had over 300 articles published in professional journals. Joseph had several patents and consulted with many companies including Pillsbury, Gilette, Hershey's Chocolate, and many oil companies around the world.
Joseph was lover of classical music, opera and the Rolling Stones. In mid life he became a marathon runner. Beside his family, a great joy was his students who are now working in North and South America, Europe and Asia.
After retirement as an America's Professor, he continued to work on his topic with a former student.
A memorial is planned for fall 2011. Memorials are preferred to the scholarship fund at the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota.