José Mariano Gago (1948 - 2015)

Many people in the particle-physics community will be deeply saddened to learn that José Mariano Gago passed away on 17 April.

José Mariano Gago entered particle physics as a young researcher at CERN in the 1970s and went on to become an ardent supporter of the Organization and all that it stands for. He was instrumental in bringing his country, Portugal, to become a Member State of CERN in 1986. He continued to be deeply involved with CERN, twice as a Portuguese Delegate to CERN Council (1985-1990, 2003-2009) and also as the Portuguese Minister of Science (1995-2011). His speech as Minister at the LHC Inauguration Ceremony is one that many people still remember.

In founding the Laboratório de Instrumentação e Física Experimental de Partículas in Portugal, José Mariano also set up the basis for the many important contributions that Portuguese physicists and engineers continue to make to CERN and in particular to the exciting adventure of the LHC. 

With his passing, the CERN community has lost a dear friend, and a passionate advocate for the importance of science as a bridge for peace in the modern world.

We send our deepest condolences to his wife, family and friends.

His colleagues and friends

A full obituary will appear in a future issue of CERN Courier.

See also the CERN Courier article where José Mariano Gago talks of his thoughts for CERN’s future on the occasion of the 60th anniversary.