Los Alamos Reporter

J. Arthur Freed Honored For 49 Years Of Service To J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee

Art Freed at Fuller Lodge Thursday where he was honored by the J. Robert Oppenheimer Committtee by having the title of Emeritus member bestowed on him. Freed was presented with a plaque commemorating his 49 years of service on the Committee as chair, vice-chair, secretary and the archivist. Courtesy photo

J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee chair Tom Ribe, right, speaks at Thursday’s event honoring Art Freed. Courtesy photo

Art Freed listens to a congratulatory message from his nephew, Steve Freed, read by Rebecca Shankland, vice chair of the J.Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee Thursday at Fuller Lodge. Courtesy photo

BY REBECCA SHANKLAND
Vice Chair
J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee

On the lawn of historic Fuller Lodge on Thursday, March 18, Art Freed was honored by members of the J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee and his many friends. The Committee bestowed on him the title of Emeritus member and presented him with a plaque commemorating his 49 years of service on the Committee as the chair, the vice-chair, the secretary, and the archivist.

Tom Ribe, the current chair, welcomed the gathering and David Izraelevitz presented Art with the plaque.  Rebecca Shankland, the current vice-chair, read a congratulatory message from Art’s nephew, Steve Freed. He recalled how Art had traveled all over Europe and America to see John Adams’s Dr. Atomic, the famous opera about Oppenheimer.


Leon Heller, another longtime JROMC member, spoke of Art’s work obtaining a bust of Oppenheimer by the notable sculptor Una Hanbury and finding a safe place for it in the Los Alamos History Museum, where it can be seen. He also noted Art’s efforts in acquiring photos of the Oppenheimer family from Katherine (Kitty) Oppenheimer: these have been exhibited in Los Alamos on two occasions.

Larry Deaven, a recent committee chair, noted how all members of the committee, especially the chairs, have leaned on Art’s knowledge and advice in doing their work.

Freed himself recalled some of the early history of the J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee and expressed his thanks and his joy for being able to serve as a member of the committee for nearly five decades.

A video of the event created by PAC 8 may be viewed at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9R9NHGUr-g