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Dr. James Wesslen Poukey died suddenly on May 1, 2001. He was 61 years old. James was an outstanding theoretical plasma physicist who worked at Sandia National Laboratories for 30 years. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1940, and moved to Cumberland, Wisconsin in the early 1950's, where he graduated from Cumberland High School in 1957. James went to the University of Wisconsin and received a BS in Mathematics in 1961, an MS in Plasma Physics in 1963, and a PhD in Plasma Physics in 1966. James joined Sandia National Laboratories in 1967. As a member of the Technical Staff in the Plasma Theory Division, James was one of the founding fathers of the Pulsed Power research area. He was instrumental in developing and using the first computer codes in this area to perform numerical simulations of complex physics phenomena associated with the generation, transport, and application of intense relativistic electron beams and intense light ion beams. Throughout his career, he worked with many colleagues on a variety of projects including electron beam diodes, bremsstrahlung radiation sources, collective ion acceleration, electron beam fusion, light ion diodes, light ion fusion, heavy ion fusion and advanced fusion, and advanced hydrodynamic radiography. He was among the first to be designated as a Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff (DMTS) in 1983. Throughout his career, he remained in the Plasma Theory Division, which became the Beam, Plasma, and Electromagnetic Theory Department in 1995. He retired from Sandia National Laboratories in 1997. He was always admired and will be long remembered for the impeccable quality of his work, his outstanding productivity, and his unforgettable dry wit. James was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, and a Fellow of the American Physical Society. He was active in Intertel, the Triple Vine Society, ISPE, Mensa. Other interests/studies were real and artificial intelligence, history, pool, golf, piano, classical music, and puzzles. James is survived by his devoted wife, Cathryn, and little black dog, Fido; sister Mary Hauser and husband Robert of LaCrosse, Wisconsin; sister Martha Baireuther of LaCrosse, Wisconsin; nephew Michael Baireuther and wife Monica of Phoenix, Arizona; niece Kari Rude and husband Jon of LaCrosse, Wisconsin; stepdaughter Frances Elder of San Diego, California; and stepson Paul Reed and wife Laura of Tucson, Arizona. A Memorial celebrating the life of James W. Poukey will be held at Sandia National Laboratories on Monday, May 14, 2001, at 11:00 a.m. in Area IV, Building 960, Room 113 (Call 845-7303 for information.) Reception will follow at the home of Rab Freeman and Bill Howden (Call 232-7518 for information; directions to the Reception will be provided at the Memorial Celebration.) In memory of James and in lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Physical Society (One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740); to your own favorite charity; or simply do a special kindness for someone you love.
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