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Abstract |
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In this issue we publish posthumously an
article coauthored by Liviu Librescu (1930–2007). This
unassuming man stood out not only as a research pioneer in many
fields, but as an accomplished, warm, and generous teacher and
human being. Since 1986 he had been a Professor of Engineering
Science and Mechanics at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University in Blacksburg, VA, where he lost his life on
April 16 while saving those of his students. He left behind his
wife Marlena (photo) and his sons Aryeh and Joe.
Born in Ploieşti, Romania, a mere seven years after
the Jewish residents of that country achieved equality of rights,
he soon saw those rights taken away as the Nazi-aligned
Legionnaire regime took over. His father spent years in labor
camps and the family survived great hardship. After the War,
Librescu continued his studies and graduated in 1953 from the
Faculty of Aeronautical Engineering of the Bucharest Polytechnic
Institute. He then started his fecund research career at the
Institute of Applied Mechanics of the Romanian Academy of Science
in Bucharest, at first working on elastic shells but soon
branching out into fluid mechanics and aeroelasticity. In 1969 he
obtained a Ph.D. from the Institute of Fluid Mechanics of the
same Academy. In the 1970s he was again the target of government
persecution, for refusing to pledge allegiance to the communist
regime and for trying to move to Israel. He was finally allowed
to emigrate in 1978, after the intervention of Israel's Prime
Minister, and joined the faculty of Tel-Aviv University. In
1985–86 he spent a sabbatical at Virginia Tech and was
offered a professorship, so he moved to the United States and
there continued his research in aeroelasticity, thermal stresses
and composite materials. With 250 refereed journal articles in
French, German, English and Russian, an equal number of
contributed book chapters and proceedings articles, and a handful
of research monographs, Librescu is surely one of the most
published authors in the field. Librescu's heroism during the
Virginia Tech murders has been amply chronicled. He was buried in
Israel with honors, and was equally recognized in Romania, whose
president conferred on him on April 18 the highest civil order of
that country, the Star of Romania (Grand Cross rank), for his
scientific accomplishments and his selflessness. We asked his
coauthor Karam Y. Maalawi, as well as his colleagues from
Virginia Tech, to write a few words in his memory, and we
reproduce them here.
IN MEMORY OF A VERY DEAR FRIEND
With great sorrow and deeply saddened heart, we mourn
the passing away of our teacher, mentor and friend Professor
Liviu Librescu. Professor Librescu, a pioneer in the field of
aerospace engineering, helped me a great deal during my stay in
Virginia. His scientific guidance was invaluable to our research
work. Librescu's generosity extended to several of my colleagues
at Virginia Tech in addition to myself. Such was his kindness and
love. His memory will remain with me the rest of my life, and I
promise to continue the work we planned to complete. God rest his
soul. Karam Y. Maalawi
FROM HIS COLLEAGUES AT VIRGINIA TECH
Liviu Librescu died as he lived, devoted to his students
and his profession. He loved his position as professor, and gave
himself to research and teaching, solely for the love of it. His
son, Joe, says it best: “He was a scientist who did not
work for money, but for the pleasure he got from his
occupation.” Always available to students, a caring teacher
and inspiring graduate advisor, his last act was to sacrifice
himself to save the students in his solid mechanics class. On
that gruesome morning, he blocked the door of 204 Norris Hall
with his body and ordered his students out the window. He saved
all but one, and fell at last, pierced by several bullets. We are
thankful for all the years we had with him at Virginia Tech. It
was fortunate for us that he chose to spend his 1985 sabbatical
in our Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, and accepted
the department's invitation to join us permanently. He was a
helpful colleague, always ready to talk about research with
anyone. His attitude towards the profession was based on a deep
devotion to knowledge. We miss him greatly. We will fulfill our
mission with increased resolve in order to honor his memory. He
will not be forgotten.
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