The Paul Damon Memorial Fund In Support of Future Scientists and Global Understanding

Paul Edward Damon: Scientist, Quaker, Internationalist On Paul Damon’s death April 14 th, 2005, he had touched many lives in his multiple roles as world-renowned scientist, committed Quaker activist for international peace and justice, and as a loving and caring human being.

Youth in Chihuahua, Mexico Paul’s youth during the Great Depression included an extended sojourn in San Pedro de los Arenales, Chihuahua, Mexico, where his father had moved in order to work on a project in his field of electrical engineering.

Crossing Boundaries Paul’s life journey took him far beyond the horizons of those hard times of his early youth. After returning to the US, Paul’s hard work and perseverance allowed him to fulfill his dream: to become a scientist.

Expanding Global Focus Paul’s experiences in Mexico directed his life toward a wider vision of the world, as did his service in the Pacific during World War II. As he entered his career as a geophysicist and geochronologist, Paul continued to explore the world beyond the borders of the US.

World Traveler and Humanitarian As a scientist, Paul traveled all around the globe, helping to bring together scientists from all parts of the world in common endeavors. His work took him back to the Mexico of his youth and back to China, where, as an officer in the US Navy in the Second World War, he had personally witnessed the economic struggles of the Developing World.

Educator and Mentor He worked with scientists worldwide, in Europe, Asia, South America, and the Indian sub-continent, with special concerns for the peoples of the former Soviet Union. His graduate students came from around the world as well, and he guided many young scientists to fruitful careers.

The Paul Damon Memorial Fund To honor Paul Damon’s life and further the goals he worked toward up to the time of his death, a memorial fund has been established to help young scientists from under- developed countries to pursue an education that might appear to be beyond their grasp.

Rwandan Orphan Anatole Mirasano: Rwandan Orphan The fund’s first scholarship will be directed to a young man whom Paul’s grandson Ned first became acquainted with as a French language pen-pal in Anatole is an orphan from the genocide in Rwanda, and the Damon family has supported him financially and emotionally for the last six years, with the help of the International Club of Kearney High School where Ned and his brother Will attended.

Rwanda: Holocaust of the 1990s

Africa’s Future Anatole Mirasano: Africa’s Future Today Anatole, who has successfully completed secondary school and passed the Rwandan National Examinations with a mark of distinction, is seeking to attend a university in France, Canada, or the US where he can study science, perhaps chemical engineering, computer science, or cybernetics.

Building a Better Tomorrow The Paul Damon Memorial Fund will help build the future of science and further Paul’s lifelong goal of global understanding student by student, beginning with Anatole Mirasano. Even the greatest journey begins with a single step, as Paul himself knew from his lifetime of accomplishment.

Donations to the Paul Damon Memorial Fund are being accepted by Pima Friends Meeting of Tucson, Arizona, where a memorial service will be held in his honor on May 30 th, Memorial Day, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. Pima Friends Meeting 931 N. 5 th Avenue Tucson, AZ