Chicago: Theoretical physicist and former president of the California Institute of Technology, Marvin Leonard Goldberger, died of cancer on Wednesday in La Jolla at 92.
His son, Joel confirmed the death of his news.
Goldberger began his career during World war II as a particle physicist with the top-secret Manhattan Project. He then taught at Princeton University when he was named Caltech president in 1978.
During his tenure as president, Goldberger helped to spearhead the development of the first 10-meter telescope at the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii—that telescope and its twin are the largest optical telescopes in the world. He also worked to secure the support of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation to build the Beckman Institute.
After his death, Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum said in a statement, "Murph was a man whose excitement about physics was contagious, and his enjoyment of life and caring for individuals deeply felt. He held to a vision to push the institute to new heights of discovery and educational distinction".
(With Agency inputs)
