1974 Alumnus Finds Fulfillment in Retirement

Class of 1974 alumnus Prof. John Abelson is now able to focus on his love of the humanities as he embarks on a journey of discovery in retirement following a long-standing career in education.

“You can’t plan your career, but what you can do and must do is to excel at what you are doing at the time because that’s what prepares you for your future,” noted John. “Luck is not the full story, and opportunity comes to those who have done the preparation.”

John’s professional academic career began in 1988 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) where he served as a professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Department of The Grainger College of Engineering. He created and taught classes, specifically Materials for Sustainability and Theory and Methods in Energy and Sustainability. Additionally, he founded and co-directed a graduate certificate and master’s degree program titled Energy and Sustainability Engineering, where students learn the skills needed to become leaders in the energy systems industry.

Throughout his career, John dedicated much of his time and efforts into developing and understanding new methods to deposit thin film coatings that play key roles in electronics, energy, and other technologies. His keen interest in science and clean energy started when he was particularly young and progressed while he was attending Hamden Hall. In science class with the late Edward Maydock, John converted a bicycle to electric power with Mr. Maydock on the motor wiring. This project fueled John to continue his studies as he enrolled at Yale University. However, John’s path took a nonlinear turn as he took a gap year between sophomore and junior year. During that time, he learned blacksmithing skills at a shop in rural Connecticut before heading to Igboland in southeast Nigeria to study the blacksmith craft. He also taught physics and French at a village high school.

Upon returning to Yale, John completed his senior thesis project, which was the creation of a photovoltaic cell. He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering and applied science. This experience led him to work as a researcher at the Solar Energy Research Institute from 1979 to 1981 where he put together a lab to study amorphous silicon solar cells. He continued his work as a researcher and visiting scientist at the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris, France, from 1981 to 1982 where he analyzed the surface properties of amorphous silicon. John went on to obtain his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from Stanford University in 1978 before ultimately joining UIUC as a tenure-track faculty member.

With newly allotted time for reflection and exploration after retiring last December, John recounts many fond memories of his time at Hamden Hall with faculty members and classes including his seventh-grade French class, the late Dr. Barbara Beitch and Edward Maydock for science, former chemistry teacher Dan Zibello, and former math teachers Albina Cannavaciolo and Joe Merluzzi. John noted that he stayed in touch with Dr. Beitch for years as he would sing art songs as she played the piano.