Alfred Hermann Sommer

Dr. Alfred ("Al") Sommer was one of the leading contributors to the development of modern television – in particular the production of efficient photoelectric surface coatings for television camera tubes. Technically this was a combination of fundamental chemistry and sheer trial-and-error, and it very well illustrates Thomas Edison's comment that successful research is 1% inspiration and 99%. Sommer's skills were constantly in high demand, and he was a quiet-spoken individual, well-liked and much respected

http://www.bairdtelevision.com/Sommer.html

Alfred Sommer, 94, of South Hadley, Mass., died December 8 in Longmeadow, Mass. He was a Princeton resident from 1953 to 1974, before moving to Waltham, Mass.

Born in Frankfurt, Germany, he completed his Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Berlin in 1934. Forced out of Germany by the Nazis, he found work in England in the emerging field of television, first at Baird TV, then at EMI. Throughout his career he was recognized for his contributions to the field of photoemissive materials. His inventions were considered of importance in the fields of high energy physics, medicine, biology, astronomy, night vision, and television.

He emigrated to the U.S. in 1953, where he continued his career at the David Sarnoff Research Labs in Princeton. Following his retirement in 1974, he served for 15 years as a consultant to Thermo Electron Corp. in WaItham. In 1990 he retired to western Massachusetts.

He was a dedicated pianist and lover of classical music, as well as an enthusiastic traveler and walker.

Predeceased three years ago by his wife, Rosemary, he is survived by three daughters, Jane Sommer of Northampton, Mass., Julia Sommer of San Francisco, Calif., and Helen Lennon of Hatfield, Mass.

The funeral will be private. Arrangements are by the Pease Funeral Home of Northampton, Mass.