Morris Firebaugh

The UW-Parkside community was saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Morris W. Firebaugh on New Year's Day. 

Morris was a professor of physics and computer science at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside for 32 years, retiring in 2001. He will be greatly missed by many at Parkside, where he will be remembered as one of our founding faculty members and as a Parkside champion for more than three decades.

During his academic career, Firebaugh also served as associate editor of the American Journal of Physics; published five books in energy, nuclear power, artificial intelligence and computer graphics; and served as co-chair of the Engineering, Applied Science and Mathematics Post-doctoral Program Review Panel of the National Academy of Sciences.

Born in 1937 to Morris J and Florence (Hauger) Firebaugh, Morris was raised in Freeport, IL, on his family's farm. Morris went on to study at Manchester College (M.A.), University of Illinois-Champagne (M.S, Ph.D, Physics) and at University of Wisconsin -Madison. He married his best friend, Joyce Maier of Lombard, IL, in 1960, moved to Racine in 1969 where they raised two children Steven (Kaela Warren) Firebaugh of Viroqua and Susan (Jeffrey) Falk of Bayside.

Morris was an active member of the Racine community, having been a 50-year member of the Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church serving several terms on the Board of Trustees, the Racine Sail & Power Squadron, a book club for 47 years, and the MAC Users Group.

He will be remembered for the love and pride he had for his family, the mountains, sailing, travel, book club discussions, the family cabin near Trego, pancakes over an outdoor fire, hiking at Devil's Lake, art, classical music and birds – especially mocking birds.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Firebaugh Physics Scholarship at UW-Parkside.

Alumni, faculty/staff, and other friends of the Parkside community who would like to share stories and remembrances of Morris may send them to alumni@uwp.edu for inclusion in the upcoming issue of PARKSIDE: The Magazine.

Morris Firebaugh Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/journaltimes/name/morris-firebaugh-obituary?pid=197473612