Paul B. Slater

Paul Slater, 81, brilliant, independent-spirited, loving and much loved, died in Santa Barbara on January 10. Among his great devotions were his long-time partner, Naomi Greene, his two sons he was so proud of, Matt of Newport Beach and Dan of Ann Arbor, grandchildren Ria and Kai, his brother Gene, swimming off East Beach daily for many years, avidly raising (and plucking) fruit trees, far-flung travels, and world cinema and opera, especially Don Carlos and Boris Godunov. Growing up in Brooklyn, graduating number 2 at Stuyvesant H.S., he studied mathematics, Russian and Chinese at MIT, received his Masters in Geography from UC Davis and PhD in Regional Science from the University of Pennsylvania. Moving to Santa Barbara in 1979, he charted his own path as a researcher first in quantitative social science and then mathematical physics. For the last 30 years, he was associated with the Kavli Institute of Theoretical Physics at UC Santa Barbara, authoring over 240 publications, primarily in quantum physics. Instead of a conventional career, he did what he loved and loved what he did. To everything, Paul brought a keen wit, a lively mind, terrific curiosity and zero ostentation. Bristling at conventions and guarding his freedom, he was deeply loyal to those he loved. He found happiness and freedom in Santa Barbara. No services: his spirit is in the air, in the twinkling eyes of this photograph and the twinkling memories of friends, colleagues around the world, and family.