In Memoriam: Tribute to President Michael R. Lovell

Abstract

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Prof. Michael R. Lovell on June 9, 2024. Professor Lovell, who was the President of Marquette University and a distinguished tribologist, passed away in Rome while traveling with his wife following a courageous 3-year battle with sarcoma.President Lovell was a renowned tribologist and a Wisconsin Distinguished Professor whose contributions to the field were profound and far-reaching. He earned three degrees in mechanical engineering, culminating in a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh under the supervision of Prof. Michael Khonsari. During his M.S. and Ph.D., he worked on the tribology of ball bearing [1–6] and made trendsetting contributions to understanding the nature of what is known as Dahl friction. Professor Khonsari fondly remembers him as one of the most brilliant students and a joy to work with. No matter how challenging the problem was, he always came up with the correct answer! His academic achievements included publishing over 100 articles in prestigious engineering journals, authoring a dozen book chapters, and co-authoring the influential book Tribology for Scientists and Engineers. [7] In addition, he held several US. and international patents, highlighting his innovative impact on the field.