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MASKEWITZ BETTY FORBES - Internationally Recognized Specialist in Information Sciences and Engineering Physics, 90, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, passed away Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at her home. She is survived by her two sons, Morgan Maskewitz of Oak Ridge, TN, David Maskewitz of Longboat Key, Florida, and her daughter, Reva Maskewitz of Clearwater, Florida. Betty is also survived by her grandchildren, Rachel and Jason Moss, Regan and Scott Zimmermann, Jared Maskewitz, Ryan and Becky Maskewitz, Shana Kampf, and Solomon Fine; and also by her great grandchildren, Hannah Moss and Sophia Zimmermann. Betty was born January 22, 1918 on Chimney Top Mountain, Hawkins County, Tennessee to Simon and Maggie Forbes of Scotch-Irish-English descent whose roots in America dated to 1733. Betty was the 7th child of 10, and is now survived by her two younger sisters, Hazel Dolloff and Sally Holliday, as well as nieces, nephews, and cousins. On December 31, 1943, Betty married Mendel Maskewitz (1913-1998), in Salt Lake City, Utah, and then moved west to Oak Ridge in 1944, where both started their careers and family. In addition to holding an undergraduate degree in Sociology and a Teaching Certificate from Berea College, Class of 1939. Betty held graduate degrees in Mathematics and Business Administration from the University of Tennessee. Additionally, she completed numerous graduate study programs over the years during her long career with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Betty was the author of numerous technical publications and a noted speaker and consultant on topics in information sciences and the engineering physics fields, and was well known in her field internationally. From 1952 to 1988, Betty's nuclear science career was based out of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Betty was a founder of The Radiation Shielding Information Center (RSIC) which was established at ORNL in 1963, serving the international scientific community in the areas of radiation protection, radiation transport, and shielding. Guided by the recommendations of the Weinberg Panel also in 1963, RSIC was developed into an extremely successful Information Analysis Center (IAC) that is still viable to the present day. As a Director of RSIC for some twenty years, Betty's leadership and personality energized the RSIC staff and the technical community to collaborate effectively through "their" IAC. Subsequently, in November 2003, at the ANS Winter Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, Betty received The 2003 Weinberg Award "in recognition of a career devoted to effectively sharing radiation shielding technology throughout the world as a means of exploiting for the benefit of mankind" -and, "For contributions to the understanding of social implications of nuclear energy." Betty served RSIC as Codes Coordinator (1963-1968) and Director (1968-1983). She organized and directed the Engineering Physics Information Centers (EPIC) from 1975 to 1988, an umbrella organization covering RSIC and other ORNL IAC's. The methods and procedures established through her efforts are widely recognized as an extremely effective way of implementing the IAC concept. She recognized that computing technology was an essential part of the total body of information relevant to any specialized technical field. Further, she promoted the concept of "open" technology and free exchange as being essential to mutual advancement within the field of nuclear science. As a result, the computer codes and data libraries relevant to the solution of radiation shielding problems have been effectively transferred throughout government and private sectors. On an international level, the field of radiation shielding has been remarkably free of barriers to exchange, due in large part to the efforts of Betty Maskewitz in promoting technology exchange within the international scientific community. Other centers established under the EPIC umbrella include computing technology for biomedical applications (BCTIC), energy-economy modeling (COMET) and carbon dioxide and climate research (CDIC). Once established and backed by a continuing research program, the centers were transferred to environments where relevant research activities were ongoing. Today, CDIAC, the former CDIC, flourishes as an international resource for CO2 information, thanks to the efforts of Betty. A long-term member of the American Nuclear Society, Betty served on both the ANS Executive Committee and Board of Directors, and in 1982 was elected Fellow of the Society. She was twice honored by the Society for "Exceptional and Outstanding contributions to the Society" and for having "materially advanced the state of the art in the field of radiation protection and shielding on a worldwide basis."
Throughout her career she was actively involved in both the Radiation Protection and Shielding and the Mathematics and Computation divisions and in the ANS Standards effort for shielding and computations. Betty traveled extensively, nationally, and internationally, to such places as China, Israel, the former USSR, and South Africa, to name a few, in a mission to encourage exploitation for the potential of nuclear technology, while protecting from the harmful effects of the associated radiation. Her visits were a catalyst for cooperative activities in radiation shielding within the United States and within other countries. As noted, she had written extensively in her field and has made numerous presentations throughout the world. In a talk in 1989 entitled "RSIC-A 26-Year Perspective", she said: "I am an incurable optimist: ....Tomorrow is always more exciting than today. And, the state of the art of shielding 26 years ago was a far cry from what we observe today. Our research tools? Who would trade the advanced computers, operating systems, and programming languages for that used when RSIC started? Surely, not I. RSICs working philosophy has not changed... we remain your servants in terms of trying to give a quick response to your requests. We collaborate when it is feasible in working with others to fill gaps in available information. And, we still presume to lead, in as much as we are able, to work for standards, to promote good practices, and increasingly to promote international cooperation and exchange of information and technology related to nuclear safety on a global basis." Her efforts demonstrated outstanding international technical and policy leadership in the radiation protection and shielding field. Betty's personal interactions with colleagues around the world consistently and effectively illuminated the human dimensions of nuclear science. Betty retired from all daily administrative responsibilities on January 31, 1988, but continued to serve as a senior technical advisor and consultant to EPIC throughout her life. Additionally, Betty devoted herself, her time and energy to many volunteer civic, social, and religious organizations. Betty was an active and founding member of Beth El Synagogue, now known as Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge (JCOR). She served on the board of JCOR on many occasions to include being President of the congregation for multiple terms. Betty also served as the Chairman of the Cemetery Committee of JCOR. She was an active member of Women's League of Conservative Judaism (WLCJ) and served as a National Vice-President for four years; President of the WLCJ - Southern Branch from 1968-1972, and remained a continuing board member, serving as Consultant-Speaker for 14 WLCJ Branch Conferences over a period of 10 years. She was a recipient of Matilda Schecter Award for Southern Branch of WLCJ. She was a member of Hadassah, and participated in 2005 as part of a Tennessee delegation of Hadassah women on a Day on the Hill, lobbying Congressmen to support stem cell research. Betty wrote the AARP Newsletter for the local chapter. She served on the Berea College Alumni Executive Council up until her death. As Betty recently surmised: "Here are three things I'm trying to keep in mind as I approach 90. First, we don't live forever. Second, life is a gift, and it should only grow more valuable as we grow older. And third, the only important thing in life is love. In my 89 years, I've received an incredible amount of love - approaching a century of it. I've tried to give love as best I can, often clumsily and fitfully, even foolishly, to relatives and friends of my youth, to other humans, to ideas and beliefs, to my work, to my local community, and to my nation." Funeral services will be held on Sunday, July 27, 2008, at 12:30pm at the Martin Funeral Home in Oak Ridge, TN and will continue at Beth El Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that charitable donations should be made to any organization in memory of Betty Forbes Maskewitz.