Howard W. Jaffe, 83, of Amherst, professor emeritus of Geology,
died May 13 at the Center for Extended Care.
He served the University for 22 and a half years before retiring
in 1990.
He was a visiting professor three times at the University of Geneva
and was head of the Geological and Mineralogical Research Group
for Union Carbide's mining and metal division before coming to
the University. His work at Union Carbide led to the development
of the YAG diamond, a synthetic mineral which is used in laser
surgery. He also worked for the Bureau of Mines and the U.S. Geological
Survey.
His publications included two books and dozens of shorter works.
He had a mineral "jaffeite" named for him in 1989.
He had a bachelor's degree from Brooklyn College, from which
he received a distinguished alumni award in 1963, and a doctorate
from the University of Geneva. He was a member of Sigma Psi, the
Canadian Mineralogical Society, the Geological Society of America,
and the Mineral Society of Great Britain, among other organizations.
A longtime runner, he completed more than 20 marathons after
the age of 60. He also volunteered with the Boy Scouts, Little
League, and local schools and enjoyed music, painting and natural
history.
His wife of 49 years, Elizabeth Boudreau Jaffe, who also had
taught in Geology, died in 1999.
He leaves two sons, Andrew of Conway, and Stephen of Durham,
N.C.; a daughter, Marina of Amherst; and eight grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Nature Conservancy of Massachusetts,
205 Portland St., Suite 400, Boston 02114, or Oxfam America, P.O.
Box 1745, Boston 02105-1745.
A memorial gathering is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday, May 19,
at the Jones Library.
