We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our esteemed colleague, Dr. John R. Klauder, who left a profound legacy in the fields of mathematics and physics. Dr. Klauder joined the University of Florida’s Departments of Mathematics and Physics in 1988, and from 2006 until his retirement in 2010, served as a Distinguished Professor. He continued his affiliation with UF as a Distinguished Emeritus Professor, remaining engaged in the academic community and visiting the Institute for Fundamental Theory as recently as last year to share his innovative work in quantum gravity.
Dr. Klauder’s career has left an indelible mark on the scientific landscape. After earning his PhD from Princeton University in 1959, he developed the concept of “coherent states,” establishing a groundbreaking bridge between classical and quantum physics and laying foundations for quantum optics, Feynman path integrals, and wavelet theory. His tenure at AT&T Bell Labs spanned over three decades, where he led the Theoretical Physics and Solid State Spectroscopy Departments and pioneered the development of radar technologies, particularly the “chirp pulse compression” method, which remains a staple in modern radar and sonar systems.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Klauder authored nearly 300 papers and several influential monographs, contributing to quantum mechanics, general relativity, optics, and high-energy physics. His recent work on “affine quantization” aimed to advance our understanding of quantum phenomena near black holes and the quantization of Einstein’s theory of gravity—an endeavor that reflects his lifelong dedication to addressing some of theoretical physics’ most challenging questions. He was widely recognized for his contributions, including his induction as a Foreign Member of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters and receiving the prestigious Onsager Medal in 2006. He served the professional community as a member of the Physics Advisory Panel of the National Science Foundation, Editor of the Journal of Mathematical Physics, President of the International Association of Mathematical Physics, and Associate Secretary-General of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics.
Dr. Klauder was not only a gifted researcher but also a beloved educator. Generations of undergraduate and graduate students praised him as an exceptional teacher and mentor. His love for classical music was well-known among his colleagues and students alike; he was even known to conduct small orchestras on occasion, sharing his appreciation of music with the same enthusiasm he showed for science.
An avid world traveler, Dr. Klauder visited over 70 countries and 6 continents during his lifetime. He was always ready to share a story of his adventures. A man known for his humor and good nature, Dr. Klauder is remembered as a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is pre-deceased by his wife Agnes Klauder and his daughter Karol Winslow, and is survived by his children, Kim Klauder, John C. Klauder, Katherine Klauder, and Jennifer Klauder, as well as his former wife, Robertha Klauder.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Klauder’s family and friends. He will be dearly missed by all of us at UF and the wider scientific community.