George Pake

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George E. Pake (April 1, 1924 – March 4, 2004) was a physicist and research executive primarily known for helping found

Early life

Pake was raised in Kent, Ohio.^[1] His father was an English instructor at Kent State University.^[2]: 3 His mother was a schoolteacher.^{[citation needed]}

Pake was exempted from service in the

Much of his early research at Harvard University focused on the topic of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. There, he discovered the multiplet structure produced by the dipolar coupling of two nuclear spins.^[3] In his honor, this multiplet is now known as the Pake doublet and forms the basis for NMR-based inter-atomic distance measurements and molecular structure determination.

After four years as a

Pake served on the President's Science Advisory Committee (1965-1969).^[5] He was president of the American Physical Society in 1977.

PARC assembled a first-rate collection of research talent, especially in the area of computer science. During Pake's years running Xerox PARC, the research center invented the

Despite advocacy by Pake, the Xerox Corporation never chose to open a personal computer division. Pake left Xerox in 1986 to direct the nonprofit Institute for Research on Learning in Palo Alto.^[6] He remained director emeritus until the time of his death.^[7]

Late in life, Pake began writing two different books, both with the collaborator

In 1986, Pake was awarded the illustrious IRI Medal from the Industrial Research Institute for recognition of his leadership in the field of technology and innovation. Pake was also a recipient of the National Medal of Science in 1987 and continued to visit PARC long after his 1986 retirement from Xerox.

George E. Pake Prize

Since 1984, the

Pake married Marjorie Semon on May 31, 1947; they had four children: Warren, Bruce, Cathie and Steve.[2]^: 20

References