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In Memoriam: John E. Greivenkamp, 1954 - 2022
Jan 29, 2022
Dr. John E. Greivenkamp, Optica Fellow and former member of the Optica Board of Directors, passed away on 29 January 2022. Greivenkamp was an active Optica volunteer, having held numerous positions during his more than thirty years of membership, including Science and Engineering Council Chair, Executive Council member, and Ex-officio Director. Greivenkamp was the Emeritus Professor of Optica Sciences, Wyant College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, at the time of his death. His contributions to the College of Optical Sciences as well as the broader professional community will have a lasting impact on the field of optics and photonics.
Greivenkamp was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, and attended Thomas More College. He graduated in 1976 and went on to study optics at the Optical Sciences Center at the University of Arizona. Greivenkamp pursued his MS and PhD degrees under the guidance of Professor William Swindell and Prof. Harrison Barrett. His research focused on analog optical computing for computed tomography. After completing his studies, Greivenkamp worked at Eastman Kodak Company before returning the OSC to be Associate Professor in Optical Sciences and Opthalmology. He was made a full professor in 1997. During his career, Greivenkamp supervised 41 MS and 20 PhD students and published more than 170 articles and presentations resulting in 4,500 citations and 20 patents. Greivenkamp’s research areas were sub-Nyquist interferometry, conformal optics, ophthalmic optics and contact lens metrology.
Greivenkamp was recognized by several organizations for his contributions to the scientific community and to advancing optics and photonics. He was elected as Fellow of both Optica (formerly OSA) and SPIE, and was named the 2017 recipient of the SPIE Maria J. Yzuel Educator Award. Greivenkamp was a recognized leader within the professional community and was elected to serve as the 2020 SPIE President. In 2012, the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences established the John E. Greivenkamp Endowed Scholarship in Optical Sciences in his honor. He was renowned for his innovative teaching style that engaged and challenged students. He was also instrumental in the collection of antique optical instruments that would become the Museum of Optics at the College of Optical Sciences.
Throughout his career, Greivenkamp influenced countless students and was known as a dear friend and colleague to many within the scientific community. The James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, has posted an extensive obituary in his honor.
Greivenkamp was an exceptional mentor and leader and will be dearly missed by his colleagues, students, and many collaborators. Optica and the scientific community mourns the loss of John E. Greivenkamp.
