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Raymond Defay (1897–1987)
IN MEMORIAM Raymond Defay(1897-1987)
Professor Defay was a native of Brussels where he spent most of his life. His Civil Engineer's degree was from Brussels Polytechnic in 1932. He served as managing engineer at the Establissements Ernest Defay et Fils in Brussels and then on the faculties of Brussels Polytechnic and in the Free University of Brussels. He was a political prisoner during World War I. In World War II he was expelled from his positions at the Polytechnic and the Free University although he continued in underground teaching during the Nazi occupation. A pupil of Th. De Donder, R. Defay was a driving force of the Brussels Thermodynamic School. This school owes its worldwide renown to some remarkable scientists, e.g., C. Van Lerberghe (thermodynamics), F. Van den Dungen (mechanics), P. Van Rysselberghe (electrochemistry), G. Homes (metallurgy), P. Glansdorff (thermodynamics), J. Geheniau (wave mechanics and relativity), and I. Prigogine (thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and relativity). Professor R. Defay led an experimental and theoretical research group in capillarity. His scientific contributions to chemical physics are fundamental. Apart from a great many papers contributed to widely known international journals, he also published important books. The late Professor Defay's personality was particularly gifted. A highly cultivated and refined man, he always showed the greatest respect for the opinions of others. His 0021-9797/89 $3.00 Copyright © 1989 by Academic Press, Inc. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.
598 Journal of Colloid and InterfaceScience, Vol. 127, No, 2, February 1989
IN MEMORIAM: RAYMOND DEFAY
599
modesty, courtesy, and tolerance were the hallmarks of this exceptional human behavior. All his many collaborators will cherish the memory of a great humanist and scientist who remained humble at all times. Cruelly struck by the demise of his dear wife and of two of his daughters, he mainrained great dignity throughout this personal tragedy. Raymond Defay was, and will remain, the epitome of the humanist and scientist, devoted entirely to the promotion of culture in its most noble and exalting aspects. A. SANFELD Free University Brussels Brussels, Belgium
Journal of Colloid and InterfaceScience, Vol. 127, No. 2, February 1989
Professor Defay was a native of Brussels where he spent most of his life. His Civil Engineer's degree was from Brussels Polytechnic in 1932. He served as managing engineer at the Establissements Ernest Defay et Fils in Brussels and then on the faculties of Brussels Polytechnic and in the Free University of Brussels. He was a political prisoner during World War I. In World War II he was expelled from his positions at the Polytechnic and the Free University although he continued in underground teaching during the Nazi occupation. A pupil of Th. De Donder, R. Defay was a driving force of the Brussels Thermodynamic School. This school owes its worldwide renown to some remarkable scientists, e.g., C. Van Lerberghe (thermodynamics), F. Van den Dungen (mechanics), P. Van Rysselberghe (electrochemistry), G. Homes (metallurgy), P. Glansdorff (thermodynamics), J. Geheniau (wave mechanics and relativity), and I. Prigogine (thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and relativity). Professor R. Defay led an experimental and theoretical research group in capillarity. His scientific contributions to chemical physics are fundamental. Apart from a great many papers contributed to widely known international journals, he also published important books. The late Professor Defay's personality was particularly gifted. A highly cultivated and refined man, he always showed the greatest respect for the opinions of others. His 0021-9797/89 $3.00 Copyright © 1989 by Academic Press, Inc. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.
598 Journal of Colloid and InterfaceScience, Vol. 127, No, 2, February 1989
IN MEMORIAM: RAYMOND DEFAY
599
modesty, courtesy, and tolerance were the hallmarks of this exceptional human behavior. All his many collaborators will cherish the memory of a great humanist and scientist who remained humble at all times. Cruelly struck by the demise of his dear wife and of two of his daughters, he mainrained great dignity throughout this personal tragedy. Raymond Defay was, and will remain, the epitome of the humanist and scientist, devoted entirely to the promotion of culture in its most noble and exalting aspects. A. SANFELD Free University Brussels Brussels, Belgium
Journal of Colloid and InterfaceScience, Vol. 127, No. 2, February 1989