Recollections of Thomas John Wydrzynski

Abstract

In appreciation of his contribution to the Photosystsem II research and commemoration of the book Photosystem II: The Light-Driven Water-Plastoquinone Oxido-Reductase, co-edited with Kimiyuki Satoh, I present here some of my recollections of Thomas John Wydrzynski and by several others with whom he has associated over the years at Urbana (Illinois), Berkeley (California), Standard Oil Company-Indiana (Illinois), Berlin (Germany), Gothenburg (Sweden), and Canberra (Australia). We not only recognize him for his unique career path in Photosystem II research, but also for his qualities as a collaborative scientist working on the only system on Earth that has the ability to oxidize water to molecular oxygen using the energy of sunlight.

Thomas John Wydrzynski (8 July 1947–16 March 2018)

“…Figure 2 shows Tom after the graduation of Rita Khanna, in 1980, in her graduation robe together with their lab mate Daniel Wong. Tom’s initiation and early work in photosynthesis has been covered in detail by Govindjee (2008) and in Govindjee’s 2018 “Eulogy” (Govindjee et al (2018).…”

“…Tom will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by those who knew him. The widespread appreciation of Tom is evident in the recollections of colleagues collected and published (see Govindjee 2008; Govindjee et al 2018).…”

We remember those who left us in the recent past

“…He is remembered for his deep and innovative thinking and warm care he extended to his coworkers. For further information on his life and research, see Govindjee (), Conlan et al (, in press), and Govindjee et al (, in press).…”

Govindjee at 80: more than 50 years of free energy for photosynthesis

“…2 for pictures of the 2013 Awardees). An example of his recognition of his past students is his writing recollections of one of his distinguished students Tom Wydrzynski (see Govindjee 2008).…”