Camille Minichino

Camille Minichino died May 6. She was 86. 

Minichino was born in Revere, Massachusetts, in June 1937 to Joseph and Helen Avallone Minichino. She graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics in 1958 before joining the Sisters of Notre Dame, where she remained for 18 years. She attended Fordham University, where she carried out experimental physics research in spectroscopy, and obtained a Ph.D. in physics in 1968.

After leaving the order, she moved to California. During her 30-year career at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, she worked in high-temperature, high-pressure physics, provided technical support to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and consulted at commercial reactors throughout the country. As an educator and professor, she developed and taught physics, mathematics, philosophy, critical thinking and interdisciplinary courses at all levels. She served on numerous academic faculties from California to Massachusetts. She also developed and taught writing classes and workshops at community colleges and through various writers’ organizations. She also is the author of nearly 30 published mystery novels, plus numerous short stories and articles in both technical and popular magazines and websites.

She is survived by several cousins and second cousins, and by legions of friends, colleagues and students. She is preceded in death by her husband Dick and her sister Arlene Minichino Polinene.