Lasting Memories
Alfred Hemingway Truesdell
Sept. 10, 1033-Aug. 23, 2014
Menlo Park, California
Submitted by Claudia Truesdell
Alfred Hemingway Truesdell, one of the pioneers in the application of geochemistry to exploration and development of geothermal systems, passed away peacefully after a long illness, in his Menlo Park home on Aug. 23, 2014. Alfred was born in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 10, 1933. As a youngster, he became interested in geology and natural phenomena, which led to a B.A. in geology and chemistry from Oberlin College in 1955. After a few years working at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on uranium mineralogy, he continued his studies at Harvard University, receiving a Ph.D. in geochemistry, petrology and mineralogy in 1962. After graduation, he returned to the USGS. He left the Survey in 1991 to become a consultant to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the geothermal industry. He retired about five years ago to spend time with his grandchildren, to maintain his great collection of photographic cameras, to bird watch and to read; Alfred was an avid and tireless reader. Early in his scientific career, Alfred did experimental and modeling studies on low- and high-temperature mineral-solution and isotope equilibria. Between 1962 and 1971 he was part of the USGS scientific team studying the thermal phenomena at Yellowstone National Park.
In 1972 he became leader of his own USGS project, continuing to study gases and isotopes in the Yellowstone hydrothermal system. He also began investigating the geochemical effects of commercial-scale exploitation on geothermal fields; e.g., Cerro Prieto (Mexico), The Geysers (USA) and Larderello (Italy). Alfred did geothermal exploration work in the U.S. and various countries abroad. During the course of his long career, he worked in Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Indonesia, Taiwan, India, China, Japan, The Philippines, Kenya and the Azores.
Alfred was an active member of several scientific societies, being one of the former associate editors of the journal "Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta," and a member of the Editorial Board of "Geothermics." Alfred wrote innumerable technical papers and reports and had several inventions to his name. He also participated actively in numerous scientific committees, workshops, seminars and conferences.
In recognition for his scientific contributions, Alfred received the Pioneer Award from the Geothermal Resources Council in 2002, as well as fellowships and awards from various scientific organizations.
Now that Alfred is gone, we feel the void he has left in our lives. He will be missed by his friends and former colleagues and, particularly, by his daughter Claudia, her family and by his former wife Karen.
April 10, 2016
Thank you, Claudia, for your warm account of Alfred's career. His enthusiasm for good fiction (we dis- agreed about whether Hemingway belonged in that category) and his love of the natural world were 2 areas of interest we shared. You and I met a time or 2 for pizza in Palo Alto, when you had a break at Mills. He spoke of you often, always with pride; his love, admiration and respect for you were palpable. Alfred and I lost track of one another after I remarried, which I regret. I had not even known that he'd died until I happened to stumble across your fine tribute to him on the internet. Having known him only as an advocate for the environment, I was surprised to learn of his early pursuit of petrology-- an indication of how his active thinking shifted and expanded. His joie de vivre, his honesty and clarity, and his lively enquiring mind I remember most fondly. And the delightfully eclectic aesthetic of his house, the huge rhododendrons he'd chosen to ring his garden, and his fondness for Citroens were small, endearing things. Best, Robin Standish