Peter Limon retires

Peter Limon

Fermilab physicists have a lot to say when asked to describe their colleague and longtime friend, Peter Limon. Leon Lederman called him eloquent, noisy and insistent. Jim Strait called him rowdy, entertaining and impatient. Alvin Tollestrup affectionately called him "a pain in the butt."

They all agreed that after he retires, they will miss his boisterous attitude, extensive knowledge of physics and ability to get things done. Today is his last day at the laboratory, 37 years after he first started as a full-time employee.

"I certainly feel invested in Fermilab," Limon said. "My ego and Fermilab are intertwined."

Limon played a major role in building the Tevatron, especially in the installation of its magnet systems. He also worked on design, installation and leak-checking for the accelerator's cryogenic vacuum system. His tendency to ask hard questions - and find the answers - made him an invaluable part of the team, physicist Helen Edwards said.

Retired Fermilab physicist Rich Orr, who first hired Limon full-time, said he could assign him to any part of the project and know he would do a good job.

"He could fend for himself," Orr said.

At one point, Limon returned to Fermilab from a sabbatical to find himself without an office. When Orr did not respond to his requests for one, Limon built his own office in the hallway out of packing crates. It wasn't long until he got his wish.

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--Kathryn Grim

One fewer password

As of today, IMAP e-mail users should begin entering their services account passwords to log in to their accounts. IMAP users will be able to access e-mail using either their services account passwords or their old IMAP passwords until May 20. After that date, only services account passwords will work.

If you enter your password every time you access your e-mail, you can simply enter your services account password instead of your IMAP password. If the program you use to access your e-mail, such as Outlook, Entourage or Thunderbird, saves your password for you, you can find instructions for changing your saved password here.

Fermilab employees and users already use services account passwords to log in to the Fermilab Time & Labor reporting system and to open Service Desk tickets. Exchange e-mail users also use services account passwords to access their e-mail.

Please contact the Service Desk with any questions or concerns by calling x2345, by visiting their office on the ground floor of Wilson Hall or by opening a Service Desk ticket.

Birth

Julius Borchert, Business Services Section employee and mail clerk, welcomed the arrival of his daughter at 8:34 p.m. on Friday, April 30. The baby, Amarantha Gardina Smith Borchert, weighed 8 lbs, 1.5 ounces and was 21 inches long. Congratulations to Borchert, a very proud dad.

White House boosts upcoming National Lab Day

From AIP FYI, May 7, 2010

The White House is renewing their effort to publicize National Lab Day, the May 12 kickoff of a nationwide ongoing effort to connect scientists and engineers with local schools for hands-on learning experiences. National Lab Day's latest spokesperson-First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama.

At the 20th Annual National Science Bowl, the First Lady emphasized the Administration's oft stated commitment to science education:

"My husband and his administration want to ensure that every single child in this country gets a good education, particularly in math and science.

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