Prof Alexei Likhtman: Family and colleagues pay tribute to Reading University lecturer after tragic hiking death

Scientist, 44, was 'one of the leading theoretical physicists of his generation'
Physics expert: Prof Alexei Likhtman
University of Reading
Ramzy Alwakeel13 October 2015

Family and friends of the Reading University professor who fell to his death in a US climbing tragedy have paid tribute to a loving father who was “one of the leading theoretical physicists of his generation”.

Prof Alexei Likhtman died after falling nearly 50ft while walking the Appalachian Trail in Maryland. He had reportedly been taking photographs and seen jumping from "rock to rock" when he tripped.

His family today released a joint statement saying Prof Likhtman, 44, had been “the best husband, father, son and friend anyone could have wished for”.

They said: “He was a kind, tender, caring, loyal and reliable person. He was generous, supportive and wise.

“His intelligence, ambition and passion accompanied him in everything he did. His talents stretched across many hobbies and interests including skiing, hiking, badminton, woodwork and photography.

His intelligence, ambition and passion accompanied him in everything he did

&#13; <p>The family of Professor Alexei Likhtman</p>&#13;

“We were all hugely proud of his achievements as a scientist, but will remember him most as a deeply loving and happy person who lived life to the full.

"Words cannot fully describe our devastation at his sudden loss.”

Dr Stephen Langdon, head of Prof Likhtman’s department of mathematics and statistics at the University of Reading, called his former colleague a “rare academic” who was “without doubt one of the leading theoretical physicists of his generation”.

“He was an intellectual powerhouse,” he added, “with academic gravitas way beyond his 44 years, yet utterly approachable, modest and always friendly in a natural way that charmed anybody who met him.

“Although to an outsider the mathematical and statistical methods he used may have looked fiendishly complicated, Alexei was able to apply them with ease to realistic problems, and he was passionate about helping others to see what he could see.

“Alexei was so much more than an academic and an intellectual. He was a great friend, a funny, spirited, yet always serious person, and our department will not be the same without his daily passionate presence, his enthusiasm for science, his warm friendship.

He was a great friend, a funny, spirited, yet always serious person, 

&#13; <p>Dr Stephen Langdon, Reading University</p>&#13;

“We still cannot grasp what has happened. His loss has left a gaping hole in our department and in the heart of all his colleagues, and he will be sorely missed.”

Sir David Bell, the university’s vice-chancellor, said Prof Likhtman had been “an outstanding leader, academic and friend”.

The Russian-born scientist fell from a cliff while taking photographs at Annapolis Rock at the weekend.

A spokesman for Maryland Natural Resources Police said Prof Likhtman had been “jumping from rock to rock” when he tripped.

He was in the US to attend a conference in Baltimore and had been visiting a section of the long-distance hiking trail with a PhD student named as Jian Zhu, also from Reading.

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