It is with great sense of sadness that I report the sudden death of Livermore laser scientist Howard Powell. Howard died of a massive heart attack while returning from lunch on November 15 in Washington, DC. He was pronounced dead at 2:27 PM at George Washington Hospital. He had attended the USDOE Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee meeting in Bethesda, Maryland November 14-15 and was enroute to meetings at the DOE downtown headquarters building when the attack occurred. He appeared to be in good health at the meeting but was reported to suffer from high blood pressure.

Howard was a leader and champion of diode-pumped solid state lasers for fusion and had presented a paper on this topic at Fusion Power Associates annual meeting last July and on other occasions. He was well-known and well-liked for his both his expertise and sincerity and his calm, friendly personality.

His sudden death brings a deep sense of personal loss to all of us who knew him.

Person's wishing to send condolences to Howard's wife, Mary, may do so via Howard's secretary at LLNL, Kim Baynes, LLNL (L-482), PO Box 808, Livermore, CA 94551.