Allen Janis

Allen I. Janis

Age 93, of Monroeville, PA, passed away on Saturday, January 6, 2024. Allen was the beloved husband of 54 years, to the late Phyllis M. (Meyer) Janis; loving father of Stuart J. (Diane Rains) Janis and Wynne Janis. He was also preceded in death by his parents, David M. and Rosa (Ginsburg) Janis, and by his brother and sister-in-law, Harry and June Janis. In addition to his children, he is survived by nephews Mark (Jan), Jim (Hillary), and Rus (Connie Snow) Janis and their children and grandchildren.

Al graduated from Northwestern University with a BS in Physics and, after a stop at Cornell, received his Ph.D. in Physics from Syracuse University where he was a student of Peter Bergmann. From there he joined the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, where he remained for the rest of his career. Early in his time at Pitt, he began a lifelong collaboration and friendship with Adolf Grünbaum, the founder of Pitt’s Center for the Philosophy of Science, who was looking for physicists with whom he could discuss physics and philosophy of science. Al became an Associate Director of the Center in 1975 and remained so until 1992, when he officially retired from Pitt. Upon retirement, he was named the first Fellow Emeritus of the Center.

Al’s research focus in physics was general relativity, and he remained active long after achieving emeritus status, continuing to publish papers, serve on committees, and review journal articles into his late 80s. Among other things, he taught a course on the use (and misuse) of physics in science fiction, and for many years, he served as the Department of Physics and Astronomy’s faculty liaison in Pitt’s College in High School program. He continued in the liaison position through 2019, a position that required him, among other things, to write exams and provide grading guidelines for high school physics teachers who taught classes providing students with Pitt college credits.

Outside of physics, his passions were his family, sailing (and being on or near water more generally), and birding. He pursued sailing and birding at the family’s second home on Pymatuning Lake, heading north virtually every weekend to look for eagles and egrets, geese and goldfinches, and herons and hummingbirds. When watching birds through his scope, he especially enjoyed giving young children their first close-up view of a bald eagle. Al was a fan of wordplay and puzzles of all kinds, particularly Will Shortz’ puzzles on NPR’s “Weekend Edition Sunday” and many of the New York Times puzzles and games. Despite suffering from mild dementia during his last few years, he continued to enjoy doing puzzles with Wynne until a few days before his death. He also enjoyed attending the Pittsburgh Savoyards’ Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. Al was very devoted to his wife and children, supporting them in their various endeavors and through difficult times in their lives.

His was a life well-lived. He was a gentle soul, kind, gracious, funny, sometimes silly, and compassionate. As he said in his later years, nobody would be able to say that he died young.

Arrangements by JOBE FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, INC. (MONROEVILLE/PLUM CHAPEL) 445 Beatty Road, Monroeville (412-856-4747). Memorial contributions may be made to the American Bird Conservancy, the Pitt Department of Physics and Astronomy, or the Pitt Center for the Philosophy of Science. Please add or view tributes at www.jobefuneralhome.com.

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