Michael Wulf Friedlander, Ph.D.

He was the most beloved husband of 62 years of Jessica Friedlander and the very loving father of Rachel (Neil) Tickner, Silver Spring, MD and David (Sheryl) Friedlander, Kensington, MD. His dear grandchildren, Noah Friedlander, Jonathan Tickner and Rafael Friedlander adored him.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents, Rose and Hirsch Friedlander and his sister, Ruth Friedlander, all of Cape Town, South Africa.

He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree, with honors, from the University of Cape Town and his Ph.D. from the University of Bristol, England. He remained at Bristol as a junior faculty member and came to Washington University in 1956 to replicate the Cosmic Ray Laboratory that he had known in Bristol. He did intensive work in the Washington University Physics Laboratory, and was beloved by his students. He was very active with university affairs, serving as Chair of the Faculty Senate during the unrest on campus and president of the local chapter of the American Association of University Professors and vice-president of the national AAUP. He was an active member of the Committee for Nuclear Information, which through its Baby Tooth Survey, advocated for the above-ground Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963. He initiated a series of lectures for lay people, the Saturday Science lectures, which have continued to be enjoyed and well-attended. This lovely man will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

A private funeral service will be held Sunday, May 2 at 11am Central Time. Please see below for Live Stream link.

Memorial contributions can be made to Chai South Africa (which cared for many Friedlander relatives at Highlands House, Cape Town) at: https://www.chaisouthafrica.com/donate-now/.