Rodica’s memory is of a University of Iowa faculty member who meant a lot to her.
Don Gurnett was a professor and scientist at University of Iowa and he made huge contributions to space plasma wave physics.
UI had a plasma instrument on every single JPL spacecraft and Don and Bill Kurth came to JPL on a regular basis to attend project science group meetings. It was always heartwarming to see how University of Iowa, where I had received my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Physics and Astronomy, were both present in my life. Don and Bill always stopped to say hello and chat with me. Perhaps there are other West High alumni who knew Gurnett or had him as a professor at UI.
https://now.uiowa.edu/2022/01/legendary-iowa-space-physicist-donald-gurnett-dies