Richard Ratowsky

Richard Ratowsky, physicist, engineer, musician, wine and fine food connoisseur, and avid runner, died Sept. 13, after a brief and unexpected illness. He was 49.

Born Oct. 21, 1958, Ratowsky earned a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University in 1980 and a Ph.D in 1988 from University of California, Berkeley. He worked on a broad range of topics where he influenced and inspired numerous colleagues and co-workers.

He joined LLNL in 1989 after completing his doctorate degree. During his career, he worked with many people on a variety of research areas including: hyperspectral imaging data exploitation, vibrometry modeling, quantum optics, laser communication modeling, photonics analysis and design, optical propagation and transport, algorithm development, X-ray lasers and ICF laser modeling. His research has been published in several prestigious journals and won an R&D 100 award in 1997.

In 2000, he joined several other Lab researchers to form Genoa Corporation, a “start-up” company developing electro-optical devices for the telecommunications industry. In 2004, after a successful venture in this sector where he helped bring several novel products to market and earned several U.S. patents, he returned to LLNL to work in what is now the Global Security Directorate.

He enjoyed chi kung, Toastmasters and running at lunchtime. He was an accomplished musician proficient on the piano, clarinet and oboe.

Ratowsky is survived by his wife, Iris and son, Oren.

A memorial fund has been established, which will be used toward his son’s college education. Checks should be payable to: Iris Ratowsky POD Oren Ratowsky. Checks should be sent to: 33 New Montgomery St., Bank of America, San Francisco, CA 94105.