Dr. André Cipriani

ANDRE JOSEPH CIPRIANI

The sudden death of Dr. A. J. Cipriani in the Deep River Hospital on February 23rd, a few hours following a stroke, came as a great shock to his wide circle of friends by whom he will be greatly missed and has removed the leading authority in Canada on the biological and medical aspects of atomic energy at the age of 47. As Director of the Biology Division of the Atomic Energy of Canada Plant at Chalk River since the start of the project, he has become a scientist of international reputation in this field of research and has created a laboratory that is unique in the breadth of fundamental and applied investigations which its staff are performing. He pioneered the development of the Cobalt-60 Therapy units which are used for the treatment of cancer. He was a member of numerous national and international committees. He was Canada's representative on the International Commission on Radiological Protection and was Chairman of that commission's sub-committee on the handling and disposal of radioisotopes. He was the Canadian representative on the United National committee to study the effects of atomic radiation. He assisted in the organization and training of the army radiation detection unit, and by his firm control and administration of the health physics program, no employee at the Chalk River plant has received excessive harmful radiation. He contributed many scientific papers to various international meetings, including the Geneva Conference last August, and also to journals, as well as writing sections for British medical encyclopeadias. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

Dr. Cipriani was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, in 1908. He came to McGill University in 1928 with a scholarship and entered the Faculty of Applied Science with the intention of becoming an engineer. However, his excellent ability in mathematics and physics led him to change in his third year to the honour course in mathematics and physics from which he graduated with high first class standing in 1932, receiving his B.Sc. degree. After a year of demonstrating in the physics department, during which period he completed some further engineering courses, he decided to proceed to the study of medicine and entered that Faculty at McGill. He interrupted his course for a year or two to assist Dr. Penfield and his staff with the design and construction of electronic equipment in connection with neurophysiology. He received his M.D. and C.M. degrees in 1940. During the Second World War he served in the Canadian Army as a medical officer doing research on various medical problems, including that of motion sickness. On the conclusion of hostilities he joined the Atomic Energy Project when the construction at Chalk River commenced.

Cipriani was a man of striking personality; along with his tremendous ability and sound judgment, there was always a lighter touch, a sense of fun. He worked hard and took his work seriously, but never himself. He was popular among scientists and local country inhabitants alike, well known throughout the Ottawa valley as an enthusiastic fisherman. Immensely fond of children, he took special pleasure in interesting them in natural phenomena, insects of various kinds which he bred at the laboratory, flowers, or geological specimens. Any week-end in the summer, he could be seen in his open Model A Ford car, which he found useful for fishing expeditions, giving his own and other children a ride round the village, managing a huge load with a kindly but firm discipline.

A much-loved figure has departed from the Canadian scene, and physicists everywhere extend their deepest symthathy to his widow and four young daughters.

- D. A. Keys