Professor Theodore (Ted) Madden: 14 March, 1925 - 10 November, 2013

(Photo courtesy of MIT.)

Communication from MIT: 13 November 2013

From: Rob van der Hilst
Subject: Theodore Madden 14 March, 1925 - 10 November, 2013
Date: 13 November 2013

Dear EAPS Alumni and Friends,

It is with great sadness that I write to inform you that Professor Theodore Madden passed away this past Monday.

Theodore Madden, or Ted as he was best known, was an MIT alumnus and faculty member whose contributions to research and teaching influenced a generation of earth scientists. Ted entered the Institute in 1942 and never left, with the exception of a three-year stint in the Marine Corps during World War II. Ted received his BS in physics in 1949 and his PhD in geophysics in 1961. He was already a professor of geophysics when he received his graduate degree. Whether in the classroom or on the hockey rink, Ted was known for his breadth of academic interests, competitive spirit, and holistic approach to education.

Ted was probably most celebrated for his work on methods for electrical exploration. In 1986, he received the Society of Exploration Geophysicists' Reginald Fessenden Award in recognition of his "pioneering efforts in the development of frequency domain IP, both in practice and in theory." Few biographies, however, capture the enormous bandwidth of his research, which spanned from the core of the Earth to the outer magnetosphere, and included topics as diverse as electromagnetics, seismology, gravity waves, plasma physics, and random networks.

Ted was also an accomplished athlete who loved all sports, particularly hockey, soccer, and lacrosse. He received MIT's award for the most outstanding athlete in 1949. Ted liked to say that he "majored in sports and minored in physics." His former students remember that he brought the same intensity to athletics as he did to inverse problems.

Ted will be missed by many friends and colleagues, but his enormous impact on MIT and the earth sciences will continue. He leaves his wife, Halima, his children Salim, Jennifer, and Nadia'00 (XII), and his grandchildren Laila and Matthew.

A memorial at MIT is planned for January, with further details forthcoming. In the meantime, you are welcome to write Halima Madden at the address below:

Mrs. Halima K. Madden
5 Willard Circle
Bedford, MA 01730-1260

In lieu of flowers, the Madden Family respectfully requests that donations be made to the Theodore Madden Fellowship Fund (3305800) created by MIT's Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) on the occasion of Ted's retirement. For more information on making a gift, please contact Dawn Adelson at dadelson@mit.edu or 617.253.0593. You may also make a gift by going directly to the EAPS website at http://eapsweb.mit.edu/alumni/giving.

Sincerely,

Rob van der Hilst

Comments/reminiscences from Ted's former students, colleagues and friends

Randy Mackie

I was with Ted Madden at MIT for 10 years, from 1986 to 1996, from my time as a graduate student to his retirement. Ted was more than just my graduate advisor. He was a mentor, friend, and family, and a great hockey player. He was a true renaissance scientist, having worked in areas from IP to MT to gravity waves, seismology, and more. He was brilliant, and had an intuitive understanding of physics and mathematics. This could be intimidating, not only to students but also colleagues. His answers to questions were often given as if they were the most basic and obvious responses, even if they weren't to those of us asking the questions! I spent a lot of my time just trying to understand these basic and obvious answers, not always successfully! Yet, he was so unassuming, and humble, and he had a kind and gentle soul. You will be missed Ted!

Steve Park

Ted Madden was a friend, a mentor, and a colleague of mine. The letter from the department chair at MIT summarizes his academic achievements; I do not intend to repeat these here. Instead, I want to recognize the impact that he had on students. I am privileged to have worked with him - his guidance and intellect will be missed! When students ask me to explain the difference between my bachelor's and doctorate degree, I tell them that I learned how to read as an undergraduate and how to think as a PhD student. Ted was the one who taught me how to think. Given all of his other accomplishments, most people do not realize was that Ted was also an outstanding field geophysicist. He loved doing fieldwork and ALWAYS wore his Marine Corps jacket (which he was very proud of). Whether it was conducting resistivity surveys, collecting MT data, or even helping with seismic refraction surveys, he was a patient instructor with undergraduate students. He was one of the two key professors in the field geophysics class during my stay at MIT, coming out to camp each January in the California and Nevada deserts. Even in the cold with rain and snow, he was a happy camper and was always enthusiastic about being there. It is natural to think of his legacy being the "Madden students" that carried his ideas beyond MIT, but it also needs to include the many undergraduates at MIT whose lives he touched.

Phil Wannamaker

Very sorry to hear of Ted Madden's passing. A giant in the field and a great influence upon me.