Sue Gray Al Salam, N4OAX SK Sue Gray Al-Salam MARCH 27, 1921 – FEBRUARY 29, 2020 Sue Gray Al-Salam died on February 29th, 2020, a month before her 99th birthday. She lived an extraordinary life. She was born to a mother—Bertie Norton—who exuded charm and social graces—and a father—Harold Norton—who loved the natural world and principles, and became the chief naval architect at Newport News Shipbuilding. She was the youngest of three girls, and was raised in the historical “Norton house” in Newport News. The house was both formal and whimsical, with a Victorian turret and widow’s walk, but also a secret room accessed by pulling down a coat hook that turned a false wall. Her father designed the room for the children. Of the three girls, Sue Gray most followed her father’s interests. As a child, she snuck out to climb trees to read books, and when many women of her age sought only a suitable husband, her mind wandered towards science and the world. After graduating from Newport News High School at age 16, and going one year to Science Hill Academy (her mother thought her too young for college), she attended Wellesley College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and having received the Durant Scholarship for her academic achievement. Though her degree was in Chemistry, she also had substantial course work in Physics and Math. She began graduate work at MIT but when the U.S. became involved in World War II, she was offered various jobs involved with the war effort. She joined the National Institute of Health in 1942 as a physicist, where she co-published articles on radiation. She then joined Argon Labs at the University of Chicago, where she studied the effects of radiation as part of the Manhattan project (and proudly recalled beating Enrico Ferme in word games!). Following the war, she entered the doctoral program in Physics at Berkeley. While there, she passed her qualifying exams in French, German, Mathematics, Mechanics and Heat and, in the words of her supervising professor, had an “exceptionally high scholastic record.” She earned her Master’s in Physics and began working on her dissertation on meson induced fission. The results of her research were later published in the leading physics journal. Then love intervened. She had met an engineering student from Iraq, Waleed Al-Salam , who charmed her with his interests in science and literature. They married, had two children, and her priorities changed. After Waleed received his Master’s in Mathematics, he returned to Iraq to fulfill his scholarship obligations. There, they began their teaching careers at the University of Baghdad and according to Waleed’s family, she learned Arabic quickly and was soon bargaining in the souk like a native. In 1954, they returned to the United States, so that Waleed could get his PhD in Mathematics at Duke. While there, they had another child, and after he received his degree, they returned to Baghdad and the faculty of the University of Baghdad. She loved Baghdad, but in 1962, she and Waleed parted, and she returned to the United States a single mother, with four children, living in the house she grew up in. To help herself get a job, she entered William and Mary and obtained a second Master’s Degree, this time in Mathematics. That led to her teaching Math, Physics and Astronomy for 17 years at Christopher Newport University. As a teacher, she focused on helping her students think analytically. But this chronology does not reflect the person she was. She was a mother who, though often exasperated, never raised her voice at her children, and showed patience, love and support no matter how stupid their actions (though she did replace her son’s pot plants with marigolds!). She instilled in them her values of honesty and integrity, and that we each have a duty to help others in the world. While perhaps not a stereotypical mother, she did what she could to help each of her children succeed. As one example, to help Nabeel adjust to a new country and life, she helped him build a kayak from plans in Popular Mechanics (and the next year a Sailfish from a kit). She was also selfless. She was famously frugal, never spending on herself, but never hesitated to give to charities and those who needed help. She loaned money to her students, made a house down payment for a lab assistant, and paid the college tuition of a friend’s daughter. She once was cautioned to put her shoes away in the car after putting on her hiking boots. She replied that “If anyone wants to take my shoes, they need them more than I and are welcome to them!” This epitomized her values. She believed in leaving a small carbon footprint before the term was coined. She hated waste, and reused or recycled everything. She insisted that takeout orders be placed in her recycled food containers as opposed to disposable packaging. She insisted on returning park literature to the ranger station. She rode her bicycle until she was 89. She was also, befitting her job, insatiably curious about the natural world. She was a prolific reader, including of scientific publications, such as Scientific American, and faithfully attended the meetings of the Astronomy Club, the Ham Radio Club and Bird Club. She volunteered at numerous organizations, including the Living Museum, teaching visitors about astronomy. She delighted in experiments and puzzles, such as why a class ring, when spun, turns such that the heavier side is at the top. She loved animals and the natural world. She snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, swam with seals in the Galapagos, went on photographic safaris in Africa, banded birds on Eastern Shore, searched for Birds of Paradise in Papua New Guinea, hiked the Tepuis of Venezuela, and boated down the Amazon, among other things. She was a wonderful person who lived a full life. And all those who knew and loved her, will miss her. If there is a heaven, there is no more deserving person. She is survived by her four children, four grandchildren, and three (so far) great grandchildren. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/fredericksburg-va/sue-al-salam-9067667
So sad to hear Sue has passed away, I feel if there is somewhere after this life she will be as busy helping in the chores as usual, lots of love Sue.
