(A copy of this will be given to each student awarded a fellowship at the bi-annual International School of Cosmic Ray Astrophysics at the Centre for Scientific Culture, ERICE, Sicily, Italy)
The funds that have endowed this permanent fellowship were raised by friends, colleagues and relatives as a living memorial to Dr. Kyoung Hye Moon. Although we will forever carry the beautiful ambiance of this delightful woman in our hearts we also wished to transform our great loss into a positive act. We could think of no better way than to help others attend the prestigious school of Cosmic Ray Astrophysics that Dr. Moon spoke so warmly of. We would like to tell you a little of Dr. Moon, not to engender sorrow, that is the last thing she would want, but rather to celebrate the achievement and beauty of this delightful person. Dr. Moon was a beautiful Korean physicist who, having gained her Ph.D. at the University of Korea in Seoul, came to America to further her research. After two years at Louisiana State University she joined the NASA Cosmic Ray group at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Dr. Moon's passionate dedication to research, as manifest in the many evenings and weekends that she worked, brought deep respect from her colleagues and was bearing fruits. She was working on two proposals on which she would be the principal investigator. For one of these proposals she overcame substantial experimental difficulties and made a gas detector work. Those who witnessed this achievement will recall the bubbling smiles and delight that characterized her work. This deep passion for research is reason enough to honor Dr. Moon but there was so much more. Dr. Moon was a true humanitarian who loved life and she did everything to protect her health. She exercised regularly, gaining a karate brown belt in 1992 and ate wisely. Coupled with this zest for life was a deep genuine interest and concern for friends and colleagues. Many recall wise words of council that she spoke. It is the delightful ambiance of a beautiful woman, both on the surface and to the very essence of her being, that endeared Dr. Moon to everyone whether colleague, friend or passing acquaintance. This is always brought to mind when her name is mentioned. Sadly in October of 1993 Dr. Moon was diagnosed with liver cancer. Following a series of medical tests during which Dr. Moon maintained her dignity and beauty despite intense discomfort she returned to Korea to be with her family who she loved. Although there was little time just before departure, she wrote to Prof. Shapiro, who organizes, the school of Cosmic Ray Astrophysics telling him of her illness and saying that she did not want to lose her chance to attend. Sadly Dr. Moon never realized this dream. She fought with everything she had but her battle for life ended in February of 1994. All our lives were enriched and brightened by Dr. Moon in ways that treasure can never buy. We all felt that such a unique life, especially as its duration was tragically short, must be celebrated and honored in a special way. This fellowship is our tribute to Dr. Moon who once remarked that she would like her epitaph to say: Physicist, Philosopher and Poet. We hope you enjoy your studies and that you will return to your institution with memories as beautiful and vivid as those Dr Moon carried from her first visit to ERICE.
email: smithae@hiwaay.net