Obituary of Russel Kauffman

Russel Kauffman, age 54 of Branchburg, NJ, passed away at his home on Tuesday, August 9, 2016. Born in Newport Beach, CA, he was the son of Delbert and Helen Kauffman of Oregon. Coming from Delaware, Russel had lived in Branchburg for the past four years. He worked as a Senior Engineer for VENCORE in King of Prussia, PA. Russel was an Aerospace Physicist. He earned a Bachelor’s in Physics from Reed College, Portland, OR, in 1984 and a doctorate from Stanford University, Stanford, CA, in 1989. He was an Assistant Professor of Physics at Muhlenberg College for 6 years and had done Undergraduate physics teaching, with research in computational chemistry. Russel had simulated electronic structure of metals to tune catalytic properties and had results published in a leading journal. He developed and taught computer simulation course; differential equations, nonlinear systems, random process, and Monte Carlo methods. He also taught a full physics curriculum; electrodynamics, nuclear/particle physics, electronics, optics, and thermal physics. He computed rates for Higgs boson production in proton collisions. He researched interaction of literature and science and spoke at five national conferences and one international conference. He was also a visiting Assistant Professor of Physics at Franklin and Marshall College for 2 years and had done a broad range of undergraduate physics teaching with research in elementary particle theory, including supervision of student projects. He and his wife, Jade Fantasy shared a passion for Argentine Tango. They loved dancing and performing at Le Paris Dance Center in Fanwood and Joy 2 Dance in Hillsborough. They enjoyed many hours of dance lessons and Milonga social dances at Nash Studio at Randolph, the Art of Tango in East Brunswick, and Dance Manhattan in New York City. Along with his parents, he is survived by his loving wife, Jade Fantasy; his son, Felix of Boston; his step-sons, Jonathan and Jason MacDuffie of Branchburg; his brothers, Zachary and Marcus Kauffman of Oregon and Matthew Kauffman of Wyoming; his sisters, Matina Kauffmann and Angelique Kauffman Rodriquez of Oregon and many nieces and nephews. Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, August 27, 2016 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. A memorial service will follow the visitation at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478 Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or at www.cancer.org