Bergen Randolph - Age 94 - Los Alamos Suydam

Bergen Randolph Suydam passed away on September 13, 2011 in Los Alamos New Mexico, at Aspen Ridge Lodge with Helene by his side.\r\n“Jerry” was born on October 12, 1916 in Tennent, New Jersey, to Edna Reid and Bergen Randolph Suydam Sr. he had a stepfather, John Rutherford Dickey. He had a brother, John R. Suydam, and a sister, Edna Reid Suydam Edwards. He married Helene Herzberg in 1946, before moving to Los Alamos in 1947. He is survived by his wife and sister and his nieces and nephew.\r\nHe graduated in 1937 from Pennsylvania State College, with a BS in physics. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Doctor of Science in 1940.\r\nHe went on to work at the Naval Proving Grounds, Dahlgren Virginia from 1940 until 1947, where he established the electronics laboratory for measuring the projectile velocities of naval artillery.\r\nHe was invited by Norris Bradbury to come to Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1947. He worked at Harwell labs in England for a year between 1967 and 1968. He was a member of the American Physics Society. He worked at LANL until he retired in 1986, although he continued as a consultant.\r\nJerry studied and spoke Greek, Italian, and Russian, and traveled to Italy, Greece and England.\r\nHe was a player and member of the Viola Da Gamba Society. Jerry treasured his two handcrafted Viola Da Gambas made by Gobles, and played and studied with master Viola players, in England and Albuquerque. He also played the recorder with a small group here in Los Alamos.\r\nHe loved to ski, and was able to do so in Aspen, Colorado; Los Alamos, New Mexico; Cortina, Italy.\r\nThe Suydams have lived in the Robert Oppenheimer house, one of the original master’s homes of the Los Alamos Ranch school buildings in the historic district of Los Alamos, since 1966, and they have given title of the historic property to the Historical Society as a gift. They supported many Los Alamos community projects, Santa Fe Museums and Opera.\r\nJerry was a brilliant human being full of wonder and curiosity, his wit was very dry, but extremely sharp. The sparkle in his eyes will be sorely missed.\r\nMemorials may be made to the American Friends Service in lieu of flowers.\r\nThere will be an open house and visitation at the home, 1967 Peach Street, Los Alamos, New Mexico between 3pm and 6pm on Wednesday September 21, 2011. DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.

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