Obituary of Leonard Muldawer

Leonard Muldawer, physicist and emeritus professor at Temple University in Philadelphia died on March 7, 2006. Dr. Muldawer was born in South Philadelphia on August 6, 1920. His parents had emigrated from Russia and his father Isaac Muldawer was a well-known family physician in South Philadelphia. Dr. Muldawer was stricken with polio as a young child but this did not stop him from mental and physical achievements. He graduated from South Philadelphia High School in 1938 and earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in 1942 and 1944 from Temple University. He then attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning his Ph.D in 1948. He was named assistant professor of physics and metallurgy at Temple University in 1948, promoted to full professor in 1961, teaching there until 1990. From 1980 until retirement in 2005, Dr. Muldawer headed the Chautauqua Program at Temple, a continuing education program for science teachers.

While studying for his doctorate at M.I.T., he faced the physical challenge of learning to swim in the Charles River so he could learn to sail. After graduating in 1948, he bicycled for eight weeks across Scandanavia.

Dr. Muldawer was passionate about classical music and sang with Singing City, the Mendelssohn Club and the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia. He sang at the Academy of Music with groups led by Eugene Ormandy and Riccardo Muti.

His scientist’s attention to detail, and his gentle and loving manner will be missed.