FPN09-36
In Memoriam: Dick Colchin
August 20, 2009
Dr. Richard (Dick) Colchin, age 72, died August 2, 2009 at University
of Tennessee Medical Center. He retired in 2002, after working his
entire 37-year career at Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a fusion
energy physicist. He was internationally known, working as a consultant
at many fusion energy sites around the world. In recent years, after
his retirement, he created and developed a diagnostic device for fusion
energy experiments that he called the filterscope. The device has
proved very valuable, and has been installed in various facilities,
including the DIII-D in San Diego and the K-Star device in South Korea.
Just before he died, he was working on modifications to the device so
that it could be placed in a fusion experiment in China.
Dr. Colchin loved all kinds of sports, and especially enjoyed playing
tennis. He is preceded in death by his parents, James and Frances
Colchin. He is survived by wife, Margaret; by daughters, Rosie of
Knoxville and Cheri Pettus (husband Tony) of Kingston NY; and by
grandchildren Ryan, Melanie and Anna Pettus of Kingston. The funeral
service was held August 6, 2009 in Knoxville.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the
Cerebral Palsy Center, 241 E. Woodland Avenue, Knoxville 37917.
Cards and letters can be sent to Dick's wife at:
Mrs. Margaret Colchin
716 Dunaire Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37923
USA