Just over a year ago, TRIUMF and the accelerator radiation protection community lost an esteemed colleague and distinguished physicist, Lutz Moritz (1943-2008). On 16 October 2008, he lost a valiantly fought battle with Glioblastoma Multiforme, an incurable tumour of the brain. Drawn to physics at an early age, and though taken from it far too soon, Lutz earned himself an international reputation as Canada's leading expert on accelerator radiation safety and left a great legacy of excellence as a teacher and researcher in the field of accelerator health physics.
This summer, in honour of Lutz, the Accelerator Section of the Health Physics Society (HPS) announced the establishment of the Lutz Moritz Memorial Award. The award will be granted annually to a promising health physics student who has submitted an outstanding talk or poster on accelerator radiation protection.
The award recognizes both Lutz's dedication to and support for the Accelerator Section of the HPS - which he served for many years as a founding member - and his considerable contributions to the field of accelerator health physics.
Lutz brought considerable intellect, insight, and expertise to the TRIUMF accelerator radiation protection program throughout his thirty-five year career at the facility. In the decade before his retirement, he skilfully and successfully navigated the countless regulatory requirements associated with the building and commissioning of TRIUMF's flagship ISAC facility. During this time TRIUMF also experienced a significant growth in the requirements for all of its safety programs. This included an in depth study of the prompt radiation hazards associated with the accelerator in order to ensure adequate mitigation measures were in place. Lutz's energy and keen intellect allowed all of this to be accomplished in a most professional manner.
The field of accelerator health physics experienced considerable growth during Lutz's career and he contributed extensively to its study and understanding. This is evidenced by his many contributions to peer reviewed publications including compendiums such as NCRP 144 and a recent text entitled "Topics in Accelerator Health Physics" published by the HPS. In addition he gave of his time tirelessly to international organizations and review panels. It is fitting that the HPS has chosen to recognize Lutz with an award to the most promising student paper at the annual conference, as Lutz was a patient teacher, always taking the time to explain concepts and ideas.
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| Lutz's painting "The Artichokes" or "i carciofi" inspired by an outdoor food display on a trip to Italy. |
Despite his considerable role outside the lab, Lutz always remained available for members of the TRIUMF Safety Group. A good listener who could always find time to solve the problem at hand, he had countless interests outside of physics, including skiing, sailing, travelling, literature, music, theatre and cuisine. Many of these he shared with his beloved family, wife Vicki and his children and grand-children. His quiet, understated manner belied a passion for all these things, although it, along with his quick wit and sense of humour, would always eventually surface. Lutz was an accomplished artist in his own right as well as a very competent pianist. Included here is a painting which he completed during a trip to Italy following his initial treatment.
For more information on the Lutz Moritz Memorial Award, click here.
-- Meghan Magee, Communications Assistant, with contributions from Anne Trudel and John Drozdoff.
Based on Health Physics News article, "Accelerator Section Establishes Student Award in Honor of Lutz Moritz," and Lutz's Obituary by Ralph H. Thomas, reproduced in the journal Radiation Protection Dosimetry.