In Memoriam
Beatrice Annaratone-Tanga
(1954 - 2009)
In December 2009 our friend and colleague Beatrice and her husband Arturo were killed in a tragic car accident. We are deeply shocked and we would like to express our feelings to their family, especially their daughters.
Beatrice Annaratone joined the Theory and Complex Plasma group of MPE in 2000. She applied her vast experience in experimental and theoretical studies of low temperature plasmas to the research of the complex plasma field. Beatrice carried out her experimental investigations as well as theoretical analysis with great enthusiasm and power. She started and led the project of ''adaptive electrodes'' in a collaboration between MPE and industry. With her inexhaustible energy Beatrice was always generating ideas for new experiments, followed by publications in various scientific journals. (List of publications (pdf).) In 2008 she was awarded the Innovation Prize of the European Physical Society. She was also holder of several patents. Beatrice had a great reputation as a specialist in plasma discharges throughout the world. After leaving for France in August 2006 she continued to collaborate with the members of our group and visited MPE several times, visits which were always a pleasure as well as scientifically rewarding. She will be deeply missed.
See some photos with Beatrice and our group here.
Condolences:
Beatrice was a wonderful person. With her beautiful brown eyes, her ample curly hair, her friendly and helpful nature and especially her super-italian accent she was known and loved by everyone in our complex plasma group - and beyond. We were all sad that she had to leave for France, but we were happy that she was able to visit us a few times to continue with her research. She certainly helped greatly to shape the group into a first-rate scientific team. We thank her for all she did and will not forget her.
On behalf of the MPE Theory Group,
Gregor Morfill
Not only was Beatrice a great enthusiast in research, she was also a heartfelt and cordial person with whom I spent a few memorable years at MPE. She was a very kind person, who was always willing to give her time and knowledge to others. Beatrice will be greatly missed by me and by all, who knew her.
Thanks and regards,
Victoria Yaroshenko
Read Mierk Schwabe's blog: ''Ciao Beatrice!''
I met Beatrice in 2003 when I was invited to work with her in the Theory group. Since then Beatrice was one of the most precious persons in my life. She showed to me what it means to be a scientist. Beatrice has taught me how to perform experimental work and how to approach with theory. Every single step in laboratory I learnt from her and now it reminds me about her every time. It is an irreplaceable loss for me.
As a physicist Beatrice had this virtue always to be curious to find a reason, to explain the phenomena, coming up with new ideas. Beatrice was a great teacher. She could do teaching very well and she also enjoyed it very much. After every lecture in the University she was very exited, worried if she could explain the subject clear enough. I am grateful to Beatrice for hours in laboratory, for very helpful and interesting discussions, which always gave me a huge impulse and motivation for further work. Also the telephone and e-mail communication which we were keeping for the last three years, since Beatrice moved to France, were very fruitful, brought us new papers and hours of very interesting and enjoyable talks. I am grateful to Beatrice for her invaluable support in my scientific and private life.
We will miss Beatrice greatly. She always will stay in our hearts. We will love and remember her.
In this sad time I am with Beatrice's family in my mind. I grieve deeply. I present my sincere condolences to her family members.
Tetyana Antonova
As an assistant for CIPS I had joined the MPE theory/plasma group shortly after Beatrice. Despite our different functions at MPE we both felt that, on the private level our lives had quite some parallels. So we kept in touch even after Beatrice and her family had moved to France. On her birthday, last November, she mailed me back that ''...if all is well I shall be there in February and then ... we'll go for lunch and we'll update the progress of our families...''. - I will never quite realize that this could not just come true.
Beatrice, I will miss you!
We all will remember her as a highly respected and successful scientist and as a warm hearted, lovable and always positive colleague who had stayed very young at heart.
My thoughts and feelings are with the family of Beatrice and her husband Arturo, and their three daughters, Martina, Silvia and Tilly.
Elsbeth Collmar
Liebe Beatrice,
als Du im Jahr 2000 mit Gregor in Kontakt getreten bist und ihm mitgeteilt hast, dass Du von Oxford nach Garching wechseln musst, konnten wir unser Glück gar nicht fassen. Damals wurde dein Mann Arturo zum IPP versetzt. Du hast gefragt, ob wir einen Platz in unserer Gruppe für Dich haben und natürlich haben wir Dich mit Kusshand genommen. Du hast unsere damals noch junge und in der Entwicklung befindliche Gruppe aufgemischt und stark beeinflusst. Innerhalb kürzester Zeit hattest du dein eigenes Labor mit den Adaptiven Elektroden aufgebaut und deren Möglichkeiten sowohl für die Forschung, als auch für die Anwendung, erkundet. Nebenbei hast du dich zusätzlich in unseren anderen Bereichen engagiert; z.B. bei der Auswertung und theoretischen Beschreibung unserer Experimente auf der Internationalen Raumstation ISS mit PKE-Nefedov.
Als wir zwei bei einem unserer Gruppenfamilientreffen feststellten, dass unsere beiden jüngsten Töchter Tilly und Varena fast gleich alt sind, haben wir ein besonderes Verhältnis zueinander aufgebaut. Neben der Physik haben wir uns dann auch noch über Kindergarten, Schulstart, Kindergeburtstage, etc. austauschen können und unsere Mädels haben sich immer wieder auf den diversen Feiern getroffen und miteinander gespielt. Nicht zuletzt auf der Einweihungsfeier unseres Hauses in Pfaffenhofen, wo dich auch meine Frau Doris als fröhlichen und sympathischen Menschen kennengelernt hat. Mittlerweile sind unsere ,,kleinen Mädels'' schon 12, fast 13 Jahre alt und schon junge Damen!
Mit Silvia, deiner mittleren Tochter, hatte ich regen Kontakt während ihrer Zeit als Werkstudentin. Sie hat mir sehr bei der Katalogisierung der Videodaten von der Raumstation geholfen. Dies wird heute noch immer benutzt, wenn die alten Daten von PKE-Nefedov herausgeholt werden.
2006 kam dann die Ernüchterung für uns, als du uns mitteilen musstest, dass Arturo jetzt eine hohe Position bei ITER erhalten hat und dass du mit ihm nach Frankreich umziehst. Wie gewonnen so zerronnen. Jetzt hatten die Kollegen in Marseille das Glück, dich willkommen heißen zu dürfen. Leider hat es mit deiner offiziellen Anstellung durch finanzielle Probleme dort nie so richtig geklappt, was dich aber nicht davon abgehalten hat, weiter zu forschen und deinen Weg zu gehen.
Zum Glück konnten wir unsere enge Zusammenarbeit auch aus der Ferne fortführen und wann immer es die Schulferien von Tilly erlaubten, bist du nach Garching gekommen: zum experimentieren, diskutieren und alte Freunde treffen.
Beatrice, dein Tod und der deines Mannes haben mich schwer getroffen. Deine Töchter und deine Familie haben mein aufrichtiges und tiefstes Mitleid. Du wirst immer in meinem Herzen und meinen Gedanken bleiben, mit deinem Optimismus, deinem Enthusiasmus, deinem Lachen und deinen wissenschaftlichen Errungenschaften. All das bleibt der Nachwelt erhalten und ich denke immer wieder gerne an unsere gemeinsamen Zeiten zurück.
Dein Hubertus
I was in contact with Beatrice for the first time through email in March, 2005 when I was offered a PhD position in the 'Theory' group at MPE, Garching, Germany. As we didn't meet before I tried to find her out in the group picture at MPE website, but I couldn't. But it was clear instantly when I arrived at Munich airport and found a woman with curly hair and pleasing personality standing at the arrival desk with a placard of my name (whom I saw in the group picture!!). It was beyond my imagination that a renowned physicist would come to the airport personally to receive me! Initially she was little bit worried about me, as it was my first abroad journey and complete change of my surroundings from typical Indian to European style. But she was very much patient, cordial and extremely helpful. I started my PhD in experimental plasma physics at MPE under her guidance but unfortunately she had to leave for Marseille, France after one year due to family reasons. But I should admit that I have learnt a lot in my first year of PhD and tried to build a platform for my future scientific career. It was possible only because she was always ready to share her vast scientific knowledge (through her teaching at LMU, Munich or personal interaction or some seminars/workshops).
Her early demise came as a shock to all of us and creates an unparallel void in the scientific community. I convey my highest regards and love to her. I also convey my sincere condolences to her family members.
Manis
It was heartbreaking to hear about the tragic death of Beatrice. There are no words to express all our feelings about this shock. This is such a great loss of a talented scientist and we are all in mourning of a great person, an excellent physicist and a very good friend to many of us. Beatrice was a very nice woman and a wonderful colleague. We will miss Beatrice very deeply. Beatrice, you will always have a special place in my heart!
I would like to add my personal condolences to everybody, who had the good fortune to work with Beatrice, to be a friend of her or only to be acquainted with her. My deepest condolences to Martina, Silvia and Tilly.
Boris Klumov and Tanya
It was always a pleasure for me to work with Beatrice on various topics during the years she spent at MPE. She was a very lively and enthusiastic person, full of energy and new ideas, always open for discussions. Beatrice was definitely one of the nicest persons I met professionally. She will be greatly missed by anyone who knew her and worked with her.
Sergey Khrapak
Dear Martina, Silvia and Tilly,
I still do not really believe what has happened to Beatrice and Arturo. It is too sad for us all.
Beatrice was very professional and shared always her helpful experiences and knowledge. I learned a lot from her. Her friendly character was exceptional.
I wish you the inner strength and the help of family and friends to learn to live with this tragic situation.
Milenko
Dear Beatrice,
There are no words for me to express what I felt and still feel since I heard about your death - only this - I miss you and always will!
My sincere condolences to the children, Martina, Silvia and Tilly and the whole family.
Angelika Langer
Beatrice was a cheerful, energetic and kind woman. I can still see and feel those of her lovely characters from her pictures.
By her nature, she cannot help bringing someone bright emotions.
She was a great physicist and always had new ideas with a great passion to carry out the plans.
To her family, I cannot even guess how it is difficult to face to this situation.
But please do not forget that Beatrice and Arturo are still and always loving you. It will never change.
Satoshi
A commemorating colloquium took place at ITER in Cadarache, France, on March 12, 2010.
See Prof. J. Allen's presentation of Beatrice's work on dusty plasmas... (MPEG-4 video, 160MB)
Wish to share your thoughts and condolences on this website? Send an e-mail to the webmaster (see below).
Thank you.
http://www.mpe.mpg.de/theory/plasma-crystal/Beatrice.html
