Emeritus Professor and Ohio Eminent Scholar, John Wilkins, passed away Friday December 6.  John received his BS in engineering from Northwestern and his PhD in Physics from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign under the mentorship of Bob Schrieffer.  He did postdoctoral work at Cambridge University.  In 1964, he joined the Cornell University faculty as an assistant professor.  John was named an Ohio Eminent Scholar in Materials Research at Ohio State in 1988 after a national search.  John continued his career at OSU until health issues forced his retirement at the age of 81 in 2017.  John was a fellow of the AAAS, APS, the American Academy of Science and a Guggenheim Fellowship awardee.

He mentored 45 PhD students and numerous other undergraduate, graduate and post doctoral students.  His opinion was valued and sought by colleagues world-wide.  He was an exemplary university citizen at both Cornell and Ohio State, serving numerous terms on major committees.  He also served his field both nationally and internationally.

Science wasn’t John’s only passion as he was a supporter of the arts, especially opera and dance, and an avid collector of both fine Chinese antiquities and Pre-Columbian pottery, not to mention fine wine.

Before his death John endowed funds at both Cornell and OSU. At OSU, he created an endowed named professorship, The John W. Wilkins Professor of Physics.

A website has been established for friends and colleagues to leave memories they have of John.
https://www.gatheringus.com/memorial/john-w-wilkins/2022