John Albert Russell, USC's first full-time astronomy professor, died Nov. 2 in Thousand Oaks. He was 88.

Russell came to USC in 1946 and chaired the department of astronomy from that year until 1969. From 1963 to 1968 he was also associate dean of the division of physical sciences and mathematics.

Russell was beloved by his students and known for his "tough love" approach to teaching, said Gibson Reaves, a retired USC astronomy professor and longtime colleague of Russell's.

"He inspired the students to earn their grades, inspired them to learn the subject," Reaves said. "He only gave grades that were deserved."

Russell's effective teaching methods earned him a nod from the university in 1960 when he became one of the first eight recipients of the USC Associates Award for Teaching Excellence. Three years later, his Astronomy 100 course was telecast as a 32-part educational series produced by CBS in Los Angeles, then syndicated nationally on public television stations.

But Russell was also well-known in scientific circles for his research on meteors, or, as he put it, the "poor man's space probes."

"In 1946, astronomy was very different from what it is today," Reaves said. "There was little if any money available for astronomical research. Therefore, as one eminent scientist put it, 'When you have no money, you have to think.' Dr. Russell thought. With his strong background in stellar spectroscopy, Russell selected the then quite unexplored field of meteor spectroscopy."

Russell photographed the light from the shooting stars through a prism so he could see the various colors individually. By studying those, he learned about meteoroids and about the Earth's atmosphere.

In 1957, Russell was chosen as the USC Faculty Research Lecturer, an honor that later became the USC Associates Award for Excellence in Research. He retired from teaching in 1978 at the age of 65 and received the USC Distinguished Emeriti Award in 1983.

Before coming to USC, he earned a Ph.D. in astronomy from UC Berkeley, in 1943. He also taught astronomy at Pasadena City College and navigation with the Army Air Force.

Russell is survived by his wife, Phyllis, and daughter, Carolyn, a USC alumna. His son, Stanton, died of cancer on Nov. 3.

– Usha Sutliff

Harrison Kurtz, 76, microbiologist

Harrison M. Kurtz, emeritus professor of biological sciences, died Nov. 26 of a stroke. He was 76.

In November, Kurtz received the USC Emeriti Center’s annual Leibovitz Faculty Service Award for distinguished volunteer service to seniors. He was lauded for his "tireless efforts as a founding member of the faculty/staff retirement benefits committee" that secured many of the benefits now enjoyed by USC retirees, as well as for his work on the oral history series that videotapes outstanding senior faculty and administrators.

Known for his wit and good humor, Kurtz joined USC in 1951 and was honored in 1977 and 1986 with USC Associates Awards for Excellence in Teaching.

"In my years at USC, more than 3,000 undergraduates, professional and graduate students have served as my teachers," said Kurtz in 1977. "To them, through our mutual interests, enthusiasm, stimulation and rapport, I owe this honor."

In 1965 he received a two-year grant from the National Science Foundation, and in 1971 he was awarded a one-year Educational Exchange Grant to lecture on immunology at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.

In March 1994, Kurtz was named a Distinguished Emeritus Professor for his research and gift for teaching, and for being an inspirational mentor to USC students.

In his years at USC, he served on numerous committees and was vice chairman of the department of biological sciences in the USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

He was also known in the greater Los Angeles area for his talks to junior and senior high school students and professional groups.

Kurtz was a diplomat of the American Academy of Microbiology, a consultant in pathology to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and a past president of the Southern California Branch of the American Society for Microbiology. He was also a past councilor of the National American Society for Microbiology and served as a consultant to the laboratory and technologies advisory committee of the state Department of Public Health.

In retirement, he served as president of the Retired Faculty Association and as the provost’s appointee to the Emeriti Center Council. He also launched a second career in alumni relations through his founding in 1991 of SCynergy, an alumni group in support of biological sciences.

Kurtz earned his undergraduate degree from Oregon State University in 1947. He earned his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in microbiology and experimental pathology from Stanford University School of Medicine in 1951 and 1952, respectively.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Fran; his children, Pam Bobnes and Rich Kurtz; and five grandchildren.

Donations may be made to SCynergy, USC Department of Biological Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371, or Skull and Dagger Foundation, Kurtz Scholarship, P.O. Box 278, Downey, CA 90241.

– Christine E. Shade