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William J Bair, Ph.D
07/14/1924 — 05/19/2015
From Richland, WA | Born in Jackson, MI
William J Bair, Ph.D
Bair, William J Ph.D.
1924-2015.
Bill Bair passed away
following a brief battle with cancer. Bill was born in Jackson, MI and grew up
in central Ohio. He served in the United States Army during World War II in the
97th Infantry Division as a rifleman. He received the Bronze Star and served in
both the European and Pacific Theaters. He firmly believed the dropping of the
atom bombs saved his and hundreds of thousands of lives on both sides of the
conflict.
Upon his return home, he attended Ohio Wesleyan receiving a B.A. in
Chemistry. From there he attended the University of Rochester School of
Medicine in Rochester, NY and earned the world's first Ph.D. in Radiation Biology.
While attending the U of R, he met and married Barbara Sites. After graduating
he and Barbara decided to accept a position at the Hanford Site in Richland, WA
with the General Electric Company (later Battelle Northwest) intending to stay
for 2-3 years. It was at Hanford that Bill began a very prolific career
studying the biological health effects of plutonium and other radioactive
materials. His research on the effect of particle size as it affected retention
and translocation of materials led to improved dosimetric models. He has over
200 peer reviewed papers.
Bill served on or chaired numerous national and international committees that established standards and guidance for health and regulatory agencies. He was the team lead for the clean-up of the Marshall Islands after atomic bomb testing, served as an advisor during the Three Mile Island accident, the Chernobyl disaster, and other world events involving potential health threats from radioactive materials.
While building his career at Hanford, Bill and Barbara began building their family. They had three sons, William J, Michael B., and Andrew E. All three followed their father into the sciences, which was a source of pride for Bill. Bill and Barb never did leave Richland. Bill was a renaissance man developing many hobbies including woodworking and carving, complex model ship building, growing award winning orchids, and an avid fly fisherman (made fishing rods for himself and family). He also dabbled in the arts by painting, creating glass tile mosaics, enamel on copper, and, of course, photography, which was turned into amazing calendars for Christmas gifts. Despite all of Bill's activities and achievements, he always had time to devote to his family and taught his boys many life skills.
Bill is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara , sons Bill (Marie), Mike (Elaine), Andy, grandchildren Heather, Rochelle, Braden, and Tommy, brother Robert Dean Bair, sister Phyllis J. Blair (Donald) and many nieces and nephews.
As a result of Bill's dedication to science, he received numerous honors, awards, and recognition from national and professional organizations. He founded the Herbert M. Parker Foundation in 1987, which was incorporated into Washington State University Foundation in 1997 to support student scholarships, public lectures and specialized library resources in support of the radiological sciences.
In accordance with Bill's wishes, the family requests donations in lieu of flowers to be made to the Herbert M. Parker Foundation, Washington State University Tri-Cities Development Office 2710 University Drive Richland WA 99354. A private service has already been held.
I was a distant associate of Bill’s and half a generation younger, but neither of these things lessened the admiration I developed for him. He was well known to me through the National Laboratory community and via our common connections with research on the health effects of internally deposited radioactivity. Our closest sustained association was as members of the Committee on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation of the National Research Council. Always a calm leader and a confident participant in discussions, he had a low key personal style that was ever endearing to me and to the many people who came in contact with him. He helped many a younger scientist to grow and was an ever valued associate of the many of his generation whose lives he touched. For those of us who knew him, the memories are good and he continues to stand as an example of the humanity toward which we all should strive.
Dear Barbara and family:
Kathleen and I extend our sincere condolences on Bill’s passing. In 1957, I was a summer intern at the Hanford Laboratories and met Bill who by then was already a senior manager. My boss was the late Leo Bustad. It was a remarkable environment where a student could interact with senior scientists and managers like Bill, Frank Hungate, Jared Davis, Dick Foster, Harry Kornberg and , even , Herb Parker. In 1962 when I married Kathleen, you and Bill helped welcome her to Richland.
For more than a half century I had the privilege and honor of counting Bill as my teacher, mentor, colleague, team leader and, most importantly, as a friend. In the days ahead, I am confident I will recall with fondness the days I spent with Bill on the journey of life. I know my life has been fuller because I crossed paths with Bill in 1957 and shared many experiences with him over the years.
Sincerely, Roger and Kathleen
It has been a privilege and an honor to know, work with, and recreate with Bill Bair. His scientific work, including radiation safety standards, influenced my work throughout my career. It was a pleasure to work for Bill when he was Director of the Life Sciences Center at PNNL. I had the honor of nominating Bill to be President of the Health Physics Society.
In recent years, several PNNL retirees played poker with Bill in a monthly game. After each game, we fondly reminisced about our life’s experiences. Bill told of the time he was on a troop ship in the Pacific ready for the deadly invasion of Japan. He was convinced that the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan saved his, and perhaps a million other lives.
My prayers and condolences go to Barbara and all of Bill’s family. We will miss Bill, but we will never forget him.
Dear Barbara,
We were saddened to hear of Bill’s death, which brought up memories of a notably honorable friend, whose integrity was steadfast in a highly competitive institutional environment. His interests in educational continuity has been important to the Parker Foundation, and I know its Board of Trustees will greatly miss his leadership on current technological matters.
We trust the love of your family will provide some comfort in the years ahead.
Burton & Artis Vaughan
Susan and I wish to express our condolences to Barbara and the family. The world has lost a great man. Few have led a richer, and more productive and giving life than Bill, whose numerous contributions — both scientific and personal — to his profession and colleagues were often made without fanfare or thought of personal recognition. He was a great colleague and friend, and a true exemplar of what a man can be. You will be missed, Bill, but not forgotten, and the example you set for others will serve as a continuing legacy gift to us all.
Dear Barbara and family:
Kathleen and I extend our sincere condolences on Bill’s passing. In 1957, I was a summer intern at the Hanford Laboratories and met Bill who by then was already a senior manager. My boss was the late Leo Bustad. It was a remarkable environment where a student could interact with senior scientists and managers like Bill, Frank Hungate, Jared Davis, Dick Foster, Harry Kornberg and , even , Herb Parker. In 1962 when I married Kathleen, you and Bill helped welcome her to Richland.
For more than a half century I had the privilege and honor of counting Bill as my teacher, mentor, colleague, team leader and, most importantly, as a friend. In the days ahead, I am confident I will recall with fondness the days I spent with Bill on the journey of life. I know my life has been fuller because I crossed paths with Bill in 1957 and shared many experiences with him over the years.
Sincerely, Roger and Kathleen
It has been a privilege and an honor to know, work with, and recreate with Bill Bair. His scientific work, including radiation safety standards, influenced my work throughout my career. It was a pleasure to work for Bill when he was Director of the Life Sciences Center at PNNL. I had the honor of nominating Bill to be President of the Health Physics Society.
In recent years, several PNNL retirees played poker with Bill in a monthly game. After each game, we fondly reminisced about our life’s experiences. Bill told of the time he was on a troop ship in the Pacific ready for the deadly invasion of Japan. He was convinced that the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan saved his, and perhaps a million other lives.
My prayers and condolences go to Barbara and all of Bill’s family. We will miss Bill, but we will never forget him.
Dear Barbara,
We were saddened to hear of Bill’s death, which brought up memories of a notably honorable friend, whose integrity was steadfast in a highly competitive institutional environment. His interests in educational continuity has been important to the Parker Foundation, and I know its Board of Trustees will greatly miss his leadership on current technological matters.
We trust the love of your family will provide some comfort in the years ahead.
Burton & Artis Vaughan
Susan and I wish to express our condolences to Barbara and the family. The world has lost a great man. Few have led a richer, and more productive and giving life than Bill, whose numerous contributions — both scientific and personal — to his profession and colleagues were often made without fanfare or thought of personal recognition. He was a great colleague and friend, and a true exemplar of what a man can be. You will be missed, Bill, but not forgotten, and the example you set for others will serve as a continuing legacy gift to us all.
Bill was such a wonderful neighbor. He was always interested in how we were doing. I enjoyed seeing what was blooming in his green house as well as all the art work Bill and Barbara collected from their many travels. He always made me feel welcome. We will miss you Bill.
Barbara—Do not know if you remember me—–I was Charles’ best friend in grade school and high school. Helped him with the music/rehearsal for your wedding. Remember you and your college girlfriend well—but do not remember her name. Went up to the U of R with Bill on one occasion—that is where I took engineering as well. Stayed in touch with your parents and still in touch with your brother’s family. I believe your mother was finally able to visit you out west and showed me the photos. Sounds like you had a wonderful life together. May God bless. Dave Stokes
Uncle Bill always took interest in all his nephews and nieces. He was an inspiration to all of us. We will miss him dearly.
We were sorry to hear about Bill !
Our love and admiration go out to Bill and Barbra and Bill Jr., Mike and and Andy,also to their grandchildren and our collective grandchildren and to other family members!
Sincerely and with Great Respect, Gary and Judy Meacham
Guestbook for
William J Bair, Ph.D