Deceased: Joseph P. Orosz (1946-2008)
Last Updated: 10th Feb 2009By Tony Nikischer
Deceased: Joseph P. Orosz (1946-2008)-From Mineral News, January, 2009
With great sadness, we recently learned of the passing of Joe Orosz on December 26. Rather than run our usual Hudson Institute of Mineralogy ad in this space, we thought it far more important to honor Joe’s memory with some of the accolades he earned but avoided while he was among us.
His most recent article in Mineral News appeared in the November, 2008 issue, where he coauthored the description of the first reported occurrence of opal at Franklin, New Jersey. Earlier, he was the driving force behind the description of pyroxferroite from the locality as well. An avid collector, Joe devoted much of his free time to the Franklin Mineral Museum, where he was a Board Member and had also assumed the duties of Curator of Mineral Science after curator John Cianciulli’s death. A founding member of the Sterling Hill Mining Museum, he was also a Board Member and Assistant Curator at the New York Microscopical Society, lecturing often on the preparation of petrographic thin sections as they applied to mineralogy.
In addition to Mineral News, Joe also coauthored articles in his professional life, primarily in advanced warheads concepts while at the Armament Research Development and Engineering Centre at Pictatinny Arsenal where he worked for thirty-eight (38) years.
Joe’s involvement with the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy began shortly after he retired from Picatinny, where he had been Chief of the Lethal Mechanisms and Warheads Technology Branch, part of the arsenal’s Energetics and Warheads Division. A mechanical engineer by education, Joe had a great affinity for mineral study by XRD, Raman and optics, and he frequently assisted others in these endeavors. His volunteer work for the Institute included complete refurbishment of the polarizing microscopes previously donated by the British Antarctic Survey, all to be used in a course for mineral collectors he was developing on our behalf.
In addition, he most recently was able to assist in the Sid and Betty Williams Laboratory effort by devoting many hours to optical equipment repair of Dr. Williams’ own remarkable optical bench. With Joe’s death, these programs have been put aside, much to our disappointment and to that of the many collectors who would have benefited from Joe’s expertise.
Joseph Orosz was a quite man, diligent in his work, painstaking in the detail he applied to all he did. Never one to shout his own praise, Joe preferred to stay behind the scenes, letting others receive the notoriety. Generous in his time and his knowledge, his friendship and support will be greatly missed.
Tony Nikischer, Chairman
The Hudson Institute of Mineralogy
With great sadness, we recently learned of the passing of Joe Orosz on December 26. Rather than run our usual Hudson Institute of Mineralogy ad in this space, we thought it far more important to honor Joe’s memory with some of the accolades he earned but avoided while he was among us.
His most recent article in Mineral News appeared in the November, 2008 issue, where he coauthored the description of the first reported occurrence of opal at Franklin, New Jersey. Earlier, he was the driving force behind the description of pyroxferroite from the locality as well. An avid collector, Joe devoted much of his free time to the Franklin Mineral Museum, where he was a Board Member and had also assumed the duties of Curator of Mineral Science after curator John Cianciulli’s death. A founding member of the Sterling Hill Mining Museum, he was also a Board Member and Assistant Curator at the New York Microscopical Society, lecturing often on the preparation of petrographic thin sections as they applied to mineralogy.
In addition to Mineral News, Joe also coauthored articles in his professional life, primarily in advanced warheads concepts while at the Armament Research Development and Engineering Centre at Pictatinny Arsenal where he worked for thirty-eight (38) years.
Joe’s involvement with the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy began shortly after he retired from Picatinny, where he had been Chief of the Lethal Mechanisms and Warheads Technology Branch, part of the arsenal’s Energetics and Warheads Division. A mechanical engineer by education, Joe had a great affinity for mineral study by XRD, Raman and optics, and he frequently assisted others in these endeavors. His volunteer work for the Institute included complete refurbishment of the polarizing microscopes previously donated by the British Antarctic Survey, all to be used in a course for mineral collectors he was developing on our behalf.
In addition, he most recently was able to assist in the Sid and Betty Williams Laboratory effort by devoting many hours to optical equipment repair of Dr. Williams’ own remarkable optical bench. With Joe’s death, these programs have been put aside, much to our disappointment and to that of the many collectors who would have benefited from Joe’s expertise.
Joseph Orosz was a quite man, diligent in his work, painstaking in the detail he applied to all he did. Never one to shout his own praise, Joe preferred to stay behind the scenes, letting others receive the notoriety. Generous in his time and his knowledge, his friendship and support will be greatly missed.
Tony Nikischer, Chairman
The Hudson Institute of Mineralogy
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