Giacinto Scoles, Princeton’s Donner Professor of Science, Emeritus, died in Sassenheim, the Netherlands, on Sept. 25. He was 89 years old.
Giacinto Scoles, Princeton’s Donner Professor of Science, Emeritus, died in Sassenheim, the Netherlands, on Sept. 25. He was 89 years old.
Professor Scoles was one of my all-time favorite faculty at Princeton. The idea of him being an extraordinary scientist and an even better human is entirely fitting. He was always looking out for the well-being of his students, post-docs, and visitors. My advice to him was not always something he wanted to hear, but he always listened, often challenged me to find better ways, and consistently provided the support to make the best choices.
Professor Scoles gave me the greatest compliment of my life when he called me “an island of excellence in a sea of mediocrity.” I think of him often and have missed him since he left Princeton. He is a model for genius, compassion, and generosity.