Faculty Memorials

Earl Prohofsky (1935-2019)

A professor of physics and astronomy emeritus, Prohofsky passed away at age 84 on Sept. 22, 2019. He joined Purdue University in 1966 and retired as a full professor in 2012. A biophysics theorist, Prohofsky authored the highly regarded “Statistical Mechanics and Stability of Macromolecules.”

Edward Shibata (1942-2019)

A professor of physics and astronomy emeritus, Shibata passed away at age 77 on Nov. 23, 2019. He joined the department in 1974 and retired as a full professor in 2004. Shibata was instrumental in bringing the introductory physics laboratory experience for undergraduate students into the modern age. He also served as associate department head and was a key member of numerous high-energy physics experiments.