Pedro Manoel Buarque de Macedo

Pedro Manoel Buarque de Macedo, Director Emeritus of Catholic University's Vitreous State Laboratory (VSL), died at Georgetown University Hospital early in the morning, Monday, September 19, 2016. Pete, as he was known to his friends, a physicist, inventor, entrepreneur, mentor and family man, lived the American dream and will be missed by all who knew him.

Pete was born in Denmark on the brink of World War II, just before the Germans invaded. The son of a Brazilian diplomat, Carlos, and his wife, Maria Henriqueta, Pete was quickly relocated to safety in Brazil with his caregiver and older brother, Carlos. Pete and his brother rejoined their parents in England late in the war, and thereafter in Russia. Pete's immersion in various cultures and languages in his formative years enhanced his understanding and ability to interact with a diverse group of colleagues over the years.

After his father's death, in 1952 Pete came to the United States at the age of 16 to study Physics at George Washington University. There, over an "unknown" in Chemistry class, he met the love of his life and lifelong partner, Arlene Krochmal. They were married in June 1959, and subsequently had three sons together, Steven, Michael and Charley. Pete's relationships with his sons and family were always critically important to him.

In January 1959, Pete arrived at The Catholic University of America as a graduate student in physics. After earning his Ph.D. in 1963, he went to work for what is now known as "The National Institute of Standards and Technology." He returned to CUA in 1967 as an Associate Professor in Physics. Thereafter, he became a Full Professor.

Pete's research on the infrared window in U2 planes helped establish the Vitreous State Laboratory in 1968. He served as Co-Director of the VSL until 2006, and thereafter, as Director Emeritus.

During his career, Pete found his calling in innovating and inventing. His research in the early 1970s, for instance, led to an improvement in fiber optics, for which he received his first patent. He earned over forty U.S. patents (and many more corresponding patents in foreign countries), and was ranked first on a list of "Most Prolific Inventors" of the 1980s by the Washington Business Journal. In 2008, he also received the prestigious "Inventor of the Year" Award from the New York Intellectual Property Law Association, an honor he cherished, receiving the award with his family in attendance.

In addition to fiber optics, Pete’s research included defense fuels (for the cruise missile) and disposal techniques for radioactive and hazardous waste materials. The VSL, under his leadership, researched and developed methods for safe containment of disposed radioactive materials, primarily by converting nuclear waste into solid glass using vitrification techniques. VSL’s vitrification, or glassification, of radioactive waste has prevented that waste from leaching into groundwater or soil. In one application of this process, VSL helped stabilize and clean up waste contained at the Hanford Site, a disposal facility in eastern Washington state housing more than 54 million gallons of highly toxic, high-level radioactive waste.

More recently, Pete invented a glass foam tile that has 50 to 90 percent air bubbles in its material. The strength to weight ratio of the high density of glass foam makes it 10 times stronger and lighter than concrete, enabling taller buildings or buildings that may be more resistant to terrorist attacks or natural disasters such as earthquakes.

Pete is survived by his wife Arlene, brother Carlos, sons Steven and Charley, and grandchildren Jacqueline, Robert, Theodore, Evan, and Helena.

A Prayer Service of Christian Burial is to be conducted at Saint Vincent de Paul Chapel on the campus of Catholic University of America, John McCormack Road NE, Washington, DC 20064 on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will immediately follow the service at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, MD.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Buarque de Macedo Family STEM Scholarship fund at The Catholic University of America, c/o CUA Division of Advancement, 620 Michigan Ave NE, Aquinas Hall 106, Washington DC 20064 (202-319-6910 or [email protected] or giving.cuatoday.com) which was set up earlier this year following the tragic death of Pete's son Michael, his wife, Alessandra, and their son, Thomas.

Arrangements under the direction of Joseph Gawler's Sons LLC, Washington, DC.