Francesco Ruggiero - 1957-2007
It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Mr Francesco Ruggiero on 18.01.2007.
Mr Francesco Ruggiero, born on 16.08.1957, worked in the AB Department and had been employed at CERN since 16.07.1986.
The Director-General has sent a message of condolence to his family on behalf of the CERN staff.
Social Affairs Service
Francesco Ruggiero, a brilliant accelerator physicist, an inventive researcher, a great collaborator, an excellent mentor and a true gentleman, died in the night from 17th to 18th January.
Of Neapolitan origin, and following diploma studies on gravitational waves, Francesco Ruggiero received his PhD in accelerator physics from the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa in 1985. After participating in the commissioning of LEP, Francesco made numerous invaluable contributions to the design of the LHC, in particular on collective effects, machine impedance, and beam-beam interaction. In 1997, he recognized the potential danger from an electron cloud in the LHC and he launched an important remedial crash program. Later Francesco became the leader of the accelerator physics group in the former SL Division. From 2000 Francesco was the driving force behind the LHC accelerator upgrade studies, e.g., as coordinator of the CARE-HHH network. Under his wonderful and caring guidance many bright young accelerator physicists were trained or recruited at CERN.
A member of the EPS Accelerator Group, Francesco helped in preparing the scientific programmes for several EPAC conferences. He contributed to PRST-AB, the refereed journal for accelerator physics and technology, as Associate Editor for Europe, and he belonged to the editorial board of the Springer series on Particle Acceleration and Detection. His 2005 article in âLa Gazzetta dello Sport' explained to a general audience why boat weights measured in Valencia and Malmo differ by some 35 kg, addressing a mystery that arose during the weighing of boats between different races of the America's Cup. He was especially fascinated by the person of Einstein and quantum mechanical paradoxes.
We will never forget his open mind, his love for physics, his friendliness and humor. He was full of passion and energy, often working in his office until dawn. During his long fight with cancer, he never gave up hope to fully recover and return to work. We are deeply saddened by his much too early death. Francesco Ruggiero will be greatly missed by the accelerator community worldwide.
We offer our condolences and deepest sympathy to his family.
His colleagues and friends
