Jack Willis

Jack Willis Obituary

 Jack Willis died at home in hospice on Oct. 27, 2020 from metastasized prostate cancer at age 95. Professor Emeritus of Physics, University of RI, Jack's main interest was teaching. For many years he and his colleague, Don Kirwan, presented "Fun with Physics" shows where physics phenomena were shown and they held NSF sponsored workshops for high school teachers. Jack was selected as one of the Inaugural Cohort of Fellows in 2014. He served as Associate Editor of The Physics Teacher, 1985-1989. An accomplished wood and metal worker, he loved contributing to and heading the Apparatus Committee. AAPT demonstration workshops and shows were a delight for him. He was similarly active in the NES-AAPT. A WWII Army veteran, he saw action in Europe as a mortar launcher. His wife of 45 years, Clarice D. Anderes, survives him. They met at an NSF workshop for demonstrations in Annapolis, MD. He leaves four children, three great-grandchildren, and three stepchildren.

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