Holloway, John R.

On September 6, 2017, John R. Holloway, emeritus professor of chemistry and geology in ASU’s School of Molecular Sciences and a world-famous experimental petrologist, died at the age of 77, in Medford, Oregon, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. John was born August 2, 1940, in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He received his BS in geology from the University of Oregon in 1963. After a stint in the Navy, he entered graduate school at Penn State University where he earned his Ph. D. in 1970. There he published with Wayne Burnham and others a series of groundbreaking papers on the properties of water at high pressures and temperatures. He was hired at ASU shortly after earning his degree. There he began building Depths of the Earth (DotE), his high pressure laboratory in the basement of the Chemistry Building. It was there that the contributions to petrology and geochemistry would flow throughout his career. The lab served as a waypoint for a continuous stream of students, postdoc researchers, and scientists from around the world. DotE became a significant part of the careers of many scientists. His willingness and determination to generously lift people up into science and get them excited about it knew no bounds. It didn’t matter to him who you were, what your background was or what state of life you were in. During his career, John helped co-found Jerome Instruments Corporation, a company that built and manufactured an environmental mercury analyses that is still in use today. He also started Depths of the Earth, Inc., where he took the high pressure apparatus developed in his lab and made it available to research groups worldwide. Depths, Inc. is still in business today, carrying on his innovative spirit and creativity in high pressure apparatus design. John’s scientific contributions to our understanding of how the Earth works are matched only by his immense impact on the lives of the people who were lucky enough to know and work with him. His academic legacy is one of creative and successful experimentation aimed at answering important scientific questions, while his personal legacy is truly one of love, generosity, friendship, and in taking joy in the world around him. In 1997, he was elected to fellowship in the American Geophysical Union. He officially mentored 17 graduate students, published well over 100 journal articles, and wrote “the book “on high pressure experimental techniques. Among his great scientific adventures was his trip to the ocean bottom in the deepdiving research submarine, Alvin and his three-month research expedition to the Antarctic. After retiring, he and his wife, Helen Rosen, traveled extensively and enjoyed their life in Ashland,Oregon. “His smile brought sunshine to any room he entered. No one could keep up with him when he began walking, and while hiking, it was impossible. What he loved most was dancing which he did a lot of both in Tempe and wherever he was in the world and the opportunity arose.” John is survived by his wife, Helen M. Rosen, his two sons: Jeffrey and Randall; two grandsons Jason and Matthew; his beloved dog, Brilly and a host of people who his life has so positively impacted. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a scholarship in his name. Make checks payable to the ASU Foundation and mail to ASU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dr. John Holloway Scholarship Fund, PO Box 876405, Tempe, AZ 85287-6405.