In Memoriam: Regis Greenwood

1939-2015

by Tony Mason, CHP

Our longtime colleague Regis Greenwood passed away on Saturday, 31 January 2015. Regis was a resident of Maryland Heights, Missouri, at the time of his passing. He had recently retired from American Radiolabeled Compounds, Inc. (ARC) of St. Louis, Missouri, after serving there for over 11 years, initially as radiation safety officer and later as health physics support. Regis received a BS in chemistry from Duquesne University and an MS in radiological health physics from the University of Pittsburgh.

Regis made significant contributions to the profession of health physics for more than 40 years. For the last 20 years, he was primarily focused on internal and external dosimetry, with secondary duties in operational health physics. Prior to his employment with ARC, he had extensive experience in the nuclear power industry, directing an environmental and safety affairs program, managing a radiation protection department, and supervising a large dosimetry section.

Regis also contributed substantially to the health physics profession outside of his employment. Some of his more noteworthy contributions include serving on the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements Scientific Committee 6-2, American Board of Health Physics Power Reactor Panel of Examiners and Part II Panel of Examiners, ASTM Committees E-10.03 and E-10.04, American Academy of Health Physics Continuing Education Committee and Board of Directors, American National Standards Institute Committee N13.48, Ohio Governor's Radiation Advisory Council Committee 38, and Health Physics Society (HPS) Power Reactor Section Board of Directors and as president of the Northern Ohio Chapter of the HPS.

Those who worked for and with Regis were struck by his dry wit, integrity, high ethical standards, and dedication to mentoring others in their professional advancement as health physicists. It was obvious he carried a deep understanding and love for his chosen field and wanted to pass that on. There were many professionals whose careers benefited from his rigorous expectations of both high-quality work and continued professional development. This was never more evident than in his nuclear power days with a group of fellow Pittsburgh-connected friends and the many students he followed through their careers.

Regis was a certified health physicist and was awarded fellow membership in the HPS in 2007. He was a faithful attendee at national HPS meetings for many years. He was always there to share his wit and wisdom with us. We will greatly miss him and the joy he brought to our meetings.

His greatest solace was the HPS, where he had many friends and contacts, and his time with his beloved cats (Siamese, Bengal, and local strays), classical music, and stacks of military history books.