Obituary of Isidore Hauser (1923-2011)

Although his Ph.D. thesis was in high energy physics, Izz is most widely known for his pioneering research with colleague Frederick Ernst on the analysis of axially symmetric solutions of the Einstein field equations. Their collaboration, which extended over a period of three decades, was culminated by their proof of a conjecture by Robert Geroch. Geroch conjectured that all such axis-assessable solutions might be members of a group, and might be locally transformable into one another. Ernst and Hauser published the proof of this conjecture in 1981, by relating the transformation of these solutions to a homogeneous Hilbert problem. We shall miss him. (Porter W. Johnson, Robert L. Warnock, Frederick J. Ernst)

Isidore (Izz) Hauser (88) died on 19th June 2011 after extended illnesses.

Izz was born in Brooklyn NY on 4 February 1923. He completed a B.S. degree at Brooklyn College and obtained a Ph.D at the University of Iowa (1956). In Iowa he met and married artist Esther Elaine (nee) Archer. They moved to Chicago IL, where he was on the physics faculty at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), from 1961 to 1988, and conducted research in theoretical physics -- most famously with colleague Frederick Ernst. He was widowed in 1965, with 3 young children. Izz married native Chicagoan Geraldine (Dena) Hauser in 1986. Upon his retirement from IIT in 1988, Izz and Dena moved to Boulder CO, where he continued his research, played expert chess, and remained active in cultural, environmental, political, and social issues. Dena died a few weeks before Izz, and he is survived by 3 children, 5 grandchildren, and 2 great grand-children.

Izz joined the Army in 1942, and served in an artillery unit. He confided to colleagues that he had been profoundly affected by extreme poverty during the depression and the events in World War II. In particular, for several years thereafter he would “drop to the ground” whenever he heard a loud noise. Izz never lost his characteristic Brooklyn accent, and came across as slightly brusque, with a wry sense of humor.

Izz noted that he had some excellent teachers -- Melba Phillips at Brooklyn College, as well as Coester, Jauch, and Rohrlich in Iowa. His lectures were formal, with close attention to mathematical rigor and completeness. His written papers also showed great care and attention to detail -- in contrast with the prevalent styles of scientific journals.

While on sabbatical leave from IIT in 1985 in Mexico City, Izz experienced two tremendous earthquakes -- he was in the shower each time!