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<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">It is with overwhelming sadness that I have to inform you that our beloved colleague and friend, Dr. Rob Fersch, passed away tragically on Saturday, June 25<sup>th</sup>,
2022.</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><br>
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</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Rob joined the Department of Physics, Computer Science, and Engineering at Christopher Newport University, almost 10 years ago as part of the CNU Nuclear Physics group,
and held a joint appointment as a staff scientist at Jefferson Lab for a number of years. He was a passionate and gifted teacher who always found ways to make the wonders of physics and its intricacies accessible to students at all levels. To do so, he was
regularly seen wheeling physics demonstrations to and from his classrooms. In fact, Rob was a big proponent of hands-on science. He developed a diverse set of physics activities and demos, his “Physics Fun Park”, which was a popular attraction at many events
such as CNU Open Houses, STEM Community Days, and Jefferson Lab Open Houses. Rob truly loved teaching, and he was exceptionally good at it!</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><br>
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</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Rob was also an accomplished researcher, published scholar, and trusted mentor. As a member of the CLAS Collaboration at Jefferson Lab he spent countless hours developing
experiments, collecting data, and analyzing results. He particularly loved to involve students in his research, which he did throughout his time at CNU.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
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</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">In short, Rob was a talented teacher, respected researcher, advisor and mentor to
</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">many students, and wonderful colleague. We will miss him tremendously.
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<span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The communications group at Jefferson Lab have developed a wonderful tribute to Rob that you can find at the following link:<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<a href="https://www.jlab.org/about/ourpeople/fersch-robert"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:blue">https://www.jlab.org/about/ourpeople/fersch-robert</span></a><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">A memorial service/celebration of life for Rob will be held in the Pope Chapel at CNU, tomorrow, Thursday, July 14, at 3 pm.
It will be followed immediately by a reception in the 3rd floor atrium of Luter Hall on the CNU campus (Luter 321). All are welcome.<br>
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If you are not able to come to the CNU campus campus, you will be able to attend the memorial virtually using the link below.<br>
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Please click the link below to join the Zoom webinar:<br>
</span><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83533715075"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83533715075</span></a><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><br>
Or One tap mobile :<br>
US: +13126266799,,83533715075# or +16469313860,,83533715075#<br>
Or Telephone:<br>
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):<br>
US: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 931 3860 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 444 9171 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782<br>
Webinar ID: 835 3371 5075<br>
International numbers available: </span><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdFm8C5SRU"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdFm8C5SRU</span></a><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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