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John Roger Sheridan ’55

John Roger Sheridan ’55, November 29, 2008, in Langley, Washington. Roger earned his BA from Reed and a PhD from the University of Washington in physics. Just out of graduate school, with wife Carol Buckner Sheridan and one child (a second followed), he accepted a joint appointment at the Geophysical Institute and the University of Alaska–Fairbanks. He became department head and full professor in physics at the university, retiring as emeritus professor in 1987. During his career, he served as chair of the National Research Council's graduate fellowship committee in physics and astronomy and conducted research in atomic and molecular collision phenomena. He was a member of Sigma Xi and fellow of the American Physical Society. Roger and Carol were Danforth Faculty Associates at the university; he also held offices in the United Presbyterian Church and Fairbanks Council of Churches and was the first chairman of the (interdenominational) United Campus Ministry Board at the university. In retirement, the couple operated a computer software development business, Sheridan Software, on Whidbey Island, Washington. In 2002, Roger retired fully and completed treatment for prostate cancer.

Appeared in Reed magazine: September 2010