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Planetary News: The Planetary Society (2004)In Memoriam: Thomas Gold (1920 - 2004)23 June 2004 Professor Thomas Gold of Cornell University, one of the world’s leading cosmology theorists and astronomers, died yesterday in Ithaca, New York, at the age of 84. He was the founder, and for twenty years the director, of the Cornell Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, where he was a close colleague of Planetary Society co-founder Carl Sagan. Gold was famous for his provocative, controversial, and sometimes outrageous theories. Whether he was ultimately proved right or wrong, his ideas always challenged his colleagues to think deeply about any subject he pursued. His approach exemplified the scientific method at its best, posing hypotheses and testing them to advance our basic understanding of the universe. I had a close personal association with Professor Gold – he served on my Master's thesis committee and was a major influence on my academic life. I disagreed with him when he challenged the theoretical basis of our solar sailing project, but I always had a deep respect for him both personally and as a scientist. His profound and provocative insights will be sorely missed by his friends, colleagues, and the entire scientific community. Louis Friedman |
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