Dr. Peter DeinesProfessor Emeritus of Geochemistry, Department of Geosciences, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences of The Pennsylvania State University.
Peter Deines (4/02/36 to 2/02/09) earned a Geologen Vordiplom at the Rheinsche Friedrich Wilhelms Universitaet, Bonn, Germany in 1959, an M.S. (1964) and a Ph.D. (1967) in Geochemistry and Mineralogy from Penn State University. Since 1967, and after 2004, as an Emeritus Professor, he was a member of the Geological Science Faculty of the Pennsylvania State University. He earned an international reputation for his geochemical research, teaching, and science administration. Recognition came in teaching awards, election to the University Senate, in which he served for 24 years, and election especially to Treasurer of the International Geochemical Society. In that office, he was so effective that he was awarded a unique Honorary Life Membership for his financial management of the society. He was a principal organizer of that Society's primary international meetings, the famous Goldschmidt Conferences. With his gift for organization, he also served the Department of Geosciences on most of its committees and he served as its Graduate Program Chairman, while also administering committees for the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, primarily for Scholarships. Most important was his commitment to the University Academic Senate, in which he served in 28 committee posts, including its Chair for 1990-91; and to the University, on 34 committees and commissions, including University Ombudsman since 2006. He also was elected President of the Faculty-Staff Club. Dr. Deines' research centered on precise explanations of natural variations in stable isotope abundances as means of understanding geologic processes. Results were presented in lectures throughout the world and in over 60 published papers. His illustrated book, "Solved Problems in Geochemistry," was polished by his teaching of eight graduate courses and is available on the web especially for graduate students. A 40-year member of the Nittany Valley Symphony, Peter will be missed for his finesse with violin and viola. Dr. Deines leaves his wife, psychologist Melissa McCreary Deines, his brother Rolf in Erkrath, Germany, nephews Peter in Sheffield, England, Jan in Braunschweig, Germany, Timothy Sulik in Colorado, and nieces Birgit Claasen, Elke Mueckter, Jutta Polzin in Germany, and Tanya Gawell in Colorado. His father, Professor of Forestry Friedrich Georg Deines and his mother Dorothee Martha Maria Gerth Deines, are deceased. A public commemorative assembly will take place on Tuesday, February 10th, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge of the Nittany Lion Inn on the Penn State Campus, 200 West Park Ave., State College. For those who wish to speak, attendees are invited to do so during the first hour and to chat during the second hour of the gathering. The contact person for the event will be Dr. Hiroshi Ohmoto and he can be reached by telephone at (814)-883-5665 or by email at hqo@psu.edu. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Peter Deines Memorial Student Program Fund", College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, 116 Deike Bldg., University Park, PA 16802-2270.
A Summary of the Principal Offices held by Dr. Deines during his Career with The Pennsylvania State University Senate Chair, 1990-1991; Faculty Advisory Committee to the President 1989-1992 and 1998-2001; Committee on Undergraduate Instruction 1981-1985; Research Committee 1980-1981, 1983-1985; Committee on Curricular Affairs 1985-1989, Chair 1986-1989 and Chair 1997-1999; Subcommittee for the Implementation of the General Education Program 1986-1989, Vice-Chair 1985-1986 and Chair 1986-1989; Committee on Academic and Physical Planning 1992-1993, Vice-Chair 1993-1997 and Chair 1999-2001; Chair, Faculty Staff Club 2005-2006; member, Retired Faculty Staff Club Board 2004 to 2008.