Rudolf Kingslake
About Optica
In Memoriam: Rudolf Kingslake,
25 February 2003
In Memoriam, OSA Fellow, Rudolf Kingslake
OSA Honorary Member Rudolf Kingslake died on February 25. His wife of more than 70 years, OSA Fellow (Emeritus) Hilda Conrady Kingslake, died on February 14.
Rudolf Kingslake was born on Aug. 28, 1903, in London, England. He attended Imperial College in London for its lens design program, receiving a bachelor's degree in 1924, a master's degree in 1926 and an honorary doctoral degree in 1950. He studied under A.E. Conrady, whose daughter, Hilda, also was studying optics there. In 1929, Rudolf Kingslake was invited to serve as one of the first faculty members at the University of Rochester's Institute of Optics. He assembled teaching materials for the first courses in lens design and geometrical optics ever offered in the United States. In 1937, he joined Eastman Kodak Co., where he worked in lens design until his retirement in 1969.
Rudolf Kingslake, who served as OSA president from 1947-8, wrote landmark books in the field of lens design and dozens of scientific papers. He received multiple honors, including OSA's Frederick Ives Medal in 1973.
The Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester
Wilmot 123, River Campus, Box 270186
Rochester, New York, 14627
or
George Eastman House
900 East Avenue
Rochester, New York, 14607
Notes of sympathy may be directed to:
Dr. Brian Thompson
9 Esternay Lane
Pittsford NY 14534
