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Sad news about Walt Jennings
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 9:44 pm
by tom jupille
I just received the following email. In addition to his scientific accomplishments, Walt was one of the best lecturers I have ever seen, with an amazing ability to inform and entertain simultaneously. He will be missed.
It is with deep regret that we report the passing of Dr Walter Jennings. Dr Walter Jennings was best known for his pioneering advancements in capillary gas chromatography, the company J&W Scientific and his trademark bow ties. He was not only a distinguished professor in Food Sciences at the University of California Davis, but in his autumn years struck out and founded J&W Scientific, the GC Column manufacturer that is now part of Agilent Technologies. He was a renowned lecturer, having taught over 35,000 gas chromatographers as he traveled the globe for lectures, conferences, and customer visits. Despite his stature, Walt was an approachable man, always willing to teach and assist those eager to learn more about Gas Chromatography. Walt is survived by his three children, Jenny, Jeff, and Peggy, and a host of grandchildren.
There will be a tribute service to honor Walt. Family and friends wishing to attend are invited from 3 pm to 7 pm on Tuesday July 24th, at 155 Placerville Drive, Placerville, California, USA.
Re: Sad news about Walt Jennings
Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:28 am
by gcguy
Very sad. I had the honour of attending a lecture given by him some 25 years ago. He was a brilliant speaker who oozed knowledge and confidence.
GCguy
Re: Sad news about Walt Jennings
Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:38 am
by Peter Apps
Let's all be thankful for his legacy - one of the great pioneers of GC.
Peter
Re: Sad news about Walt Jennings
Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:40 am
by jdezeeuw
He was a pioneer in GC and always a big example for me. He triggered my interest for GC columns, which made me where I am today: still doing GC innovation.
He also taught me how to get a message across. A good teacher with an own style, very easy to approach.
we will miss him..
Re: Sad news about Walt Jennings
Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:54 pm
by DR
He is the first person to come to my mind whenever someone says something about a bow-tie:)
He did so much to get GS where it is today.
Re: Sad news about Walt Jennings
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 4:05 am
by chromatographer1
He graciously signed his book I brought to his lecture back in the 1980s.
He was a gentleman AND a scholar.
And I loved his ties.
Rod
Re: Sad news about Walt Jennings
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:04 pm
by dblux_
I always associate HIM with portraits on Agilent column boxes.
R.I.P. Professor Jennings.
W.
Re: Sad news about Walt Jennings
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:14 pm
by jdezeeuw
then you do not know how he really felt about Agilent. I will not discuss this here but don't think that Walt was an "agilent" follower. He had strong issues with that company.
I never forget when he finished a talk showing his email:
it said: Walt.Jennings @ nonagilent.com. A pretty strong message I think..
Re: Sad news about Walt Jennings
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:03 am
by dblux_
Memories by Prof. Jennings:
http://tinyurl.com/cpk7drp
---------
just thought, after reading these interesting memories we'll all know much more about him
Re: Sad news about Walt Jennings
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:05 pm
by AICMM
I had an opportunity to meet him at a conference after an awards ceremony. Approachable is a great way to describe him. Approachable that speaks of both a confidence and humility.
My condolences to his family and friends.
AICMM
Re: Sad news about Walt Jennings
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 11:50 am
by Bigbear
I chanced to meet him at Pit Con in 2002. I just walked up to him on the trade floor to thank him for helping me with chromatography from afar. The reference / troubleshooting sections of the J&W catalogs helped me greatly. Still keep a few old catalogs for reference.
He accepted my thanks graciously . He will be missed.
Re: Sad news about Walt Jennings
Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 7:14 pm
by dblux_
then you do not know how he really felt about Agilent. I will not discuss this here but don't think that Walt was an "agilent" follower. He had strong issues with that company.
I never forget when he finished a talk showing his email:
it said: Walt.Jennings @ nonagilent.com. A pretty strong message I think..
Hi Jaap,
Today an Agilent representative visited me. We talked about Walter Jennings.
When I told her about this e-mail address which expressed Walter's attitude about Agilent she very kindly explained me that there was no message hidden in this address.
Non Agilent employees (consultants etc.) are given such mail addresses by Agilent to differentiate them easily between Agilent employees. That's a fact.
I didn't ask her about details, but it was the first what she told me about it.
No doubt mail address you quoted was active and functional and I do not think of any messages expressed this way.
MfG, W.
Re: Sad news about Walt Jennings
Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 8:51 pm
by GCMSNoob
then you do not know how he really felt about Agilent. I will not discuss this here but don't think that Walt was an "agilent" follower. He had strong issues with that company.
I never forget when he finished a talk showing his email:
it said: Walt.Jennings @ nonagilent.com. A pretty strong message I think..
Hi Jaap,
Today an Agilent representative visited me. We talked about Walter Jennings.
When I told her about this e-mail address which expressed Walter's attitude about Agilent she very kindly explained me that there was no message hidden in this address.
Non Agilent employees (consultants etc.) are given such mail addresses by Agilent to differentiate them easily between Agilent employees. That's a fact.
I didn't ask her about details, but it was the first what she told me about it.
No doubt mail address you quoted was active and functional and I do not think of any messages expressed this way.
MfG, W.
A Google search for "non-agilent.com" reveals several people with the same domain in their address, several of whom say they work for Agilent in their signature block on various forums (fora?).
Re: Sad news about Walt Jennings
Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 10:24 pm
by dblux_
A Google search for "non-agilent.com" reveals several people with the same domain in their address, several of whom say they work for Agilent in their signature block on various forums (fora?).
Yes. Just for instance see
this Agilent flier (at the very bottom of document).
http://www.youdobio.com/wp-content/uplo ... ordics.pdf
or
http://www.infovis-wiki.net/images/2/23 ... archer.pdf
Re: Sad news about Walt Jennings
Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 11:10 am
by Bruce Hamilton
Sorry for the delayed response, but I just want to express my sorrow at Walt's passing. I really enjoyed the J&W catalogues with their little elves and advice, and his book "Analytical Gas Chromatography" was a great introductory text. That's evident by the number of times I had to reclaim it from "borrowers".
He visited us for half a day about 25 years ago, and his cheerful glee discussing aspects of modern chromatography is still remembered, as is his bow-tie.
When he visited, we had just switched to Hydrogen carrier after convincing managers it was safe to reticulate and use. During his talk he described the explosion from forgetting to install a 1/4" column into a pressure-controlled GC system.
Sadly missed, and condolences to his family and friends.