In Memoriam

Herbert York (1921–2009)

Memorial Tribute
October 9, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.
Mandeville Auditorium, UC San Diego
Webcast live at http://mediaservices.ucsd.edu/live

York in a reflective moment at the IGCC 25th anniversary celebration.

Message from IGCC Director Susan Shirk

It is with great sadness that I must tell you that Herb York passed away yesterday at age 87.  As you know, Herb was the founder of the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, our director emeritus, and the inspiration for IGCC’s mission of bringing the knowledge generated by UC faculty and students to bear on policy efforts to prevent nuclear war and other forms of military conflict.  Among his many achievements, he initiated the summer nuclear weapons policy training sessions and the track two dialogues which have become hallmarks of IGCC. 

From 1983, when he persuaded Governor Jerry Brown and UC President David Saxon to establish IGCC, until this year, Herb was strongly engaged in the Institute’s activities. In recent years, his talks became the high point of our summer program on public policy and nuclear threats. The students in the program could not get enough of his reminiscences about his involvement with the development of nuclear weapons and negotiations to control their spread and use, mixed with his cogent analysis of how to reduce current proliferation threats.  And of course, he was a great role model to our students and to us of a scholar-diplomat who made the world a better place.

York speaks to Public Policy and Nuclear Threats summer boot camp participants, 2007

Herb had the most wonderful sunny and optimistic spirit. He supported the university and campus diversity in all its colors.  He reached out to cultivate new and varied young friendships well into his eighties. His warmth and cheerful pride in the company of his own family members were memorable.  He will live on in the hearts of so very many people who remember him first as the finest possible example of a man bearing true generosity of spirit, friendship, warmth, and affection for all.  It is in this sense too, and foremost, that he has left this campus, this university, and this world a better place.  For some, we profoundly regret a passing, but for others we also truly grieve—and Herb York was one of these. We shall miss him deeply. 

Warm regards,
 
Susan Shirk
Director, IGCC

York gets with some of the first IGCC IGERT Fellows, 2004

In lieu of flowers, the York family suggests that donations in Herb’s memory be made to the "Herb York Memorial Fund" which will support Herb’s legacy at IGCC.

Checks payable to the UC San Diego Foundation can be sent to:

University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive #0940
La Jolla, CA 92093-0940

Donations can also be made online at:  http://www.givetoucsd.ucsd.edu. On the gift designation page, search for fund 4949 or indicate "Herb York Memorial Fund" in the comments section.

LINKS

Videos featuring Herb York

On the set of "Conversations with History": Harry Kreisler, Herb York, and Susan Shirk

Conversations with History

Herbert F. York: Reminiscences from a Career in Science, National Security, and the University
Link to video

Herbert F. York and Susan L. Shirk: Addressing National Security Challenges in a Post-9/11 World
Link to video

UC-TV

Herbert York and Marvin Goldberger: Physicists, the Bomb, and the Development of U.S. Science Policy: Personal Recollections
Link to video

Links to stories about Herb York

UCSD News: http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/general/05-09York.asp

Physics Today: Link to story

Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-me-herbert-york21-2009may21,0,5901873.story

San Diego Union-Tribune: Link to story

La Jolla Light: http://www.lajollalight.com/news/257116-founding-ucsd-chancellor-dies

History

http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/science/mcfermi.htm