Roger Perkins

Dr. Roger Bruce Perkins died at home in Los Alamos, New Mexico on July 11th 2008, after a courageous battle with cancer. Roger was born in Hammond, Indiana on November 8, 1935 to Philip and Lydia Perkins. Roger was awarded a Ford Foundation scholarship while a sophomore in high school, which sent him to college early at the University of Wisconsin. He graduated with a B.S. from Wisconsin in 1955, and received his Ph.D. in physics from Princeton University in 1959. He was a Fellow of the American Physical Society. During his college years, Roger worked as a summer student at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, where he met his future wife Betty, and upon graduation in 1959 became a staff member in the Physics Division. During 1964-1965, he took leave to work at the Division of Research at the US Atomic Energy Division in Washington, D.C. from 1970-1971, he again took a year's leave to serve as a visiting professor of Physics and Astrophysics at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Roger held a number of different positions in upper management at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, including Leader of the Laser Research and Technology Division (1976-1979), Assistant Laboratory Director of Facilities and Fabrication (1986-1988), and Deputy Associate Director of Physics and Life Sciences (1989-1993). After retirement n 1997 as Deputy Director for Facilities, Safeguards and Security, Roger traveled extensively and also worked part time as a consultant for various laboratory contractors. Roger will be deeply missed by his wife of more than 50 years, Betty Lindsey Perkins, daughters Martha Perkins, Ann Perkins, and Elaine Perkins Jacobs, son-in-law Brian Jacobs, grandchildren Lindsey (Lindy) and John (Johnny) Jacobs and James Coburn, his sister Priscilla Bath, and nephew David Bath and wife Dreana and son Steven, and nephew Dale Bath and wife Lynn as well as numerous friends. In his memory, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Barschall Enterprise Fund, University of Wisconsin Foundation, 1848 University Avenue, P.O. Box 8860 Madison Wisconsin 53708-8860.