In Memoriam: William Phillip Helman, Professor Emeritus, Notre Dame Radiation Laboratory

Author: Kelli Brown

Helman William Phillip

November 2, 1936 - November 8, 2022

Phillip Helman passed away peacefully on the 8th of November, 2022 in South Bend, IN. He was born November 2, 1936 in Grand Junction, Colorado, the son of John Phillip and Claire Goldsmith Helman. He had one sister, Jacqueline Beatrice Campbell who died in 2003.

Phillip graduated from Caltech with a B.S. in chemistry in 1958 followed by a M.S. in 1960. He earned his Ph.D. in physical chemistry and physics in 1964 from the University of Minnesota. Before coming to the University of Notre Dame Radiation Laboratory he worked for the E.I. DuPont corporation in Wilmington, Delaware for a year and a half. From 1966 to 2006 he was a research chemist in the aptly named Rad Lab.

On September 7th, 1974 Phillip was united in marriage to Carolyn Anna Tschida at St. Stephens Catholic Church in South Bend; they have one son, Bill.

Throughout his life Phillip loved spending time with his family at their cabin in Colorado, especially after he retired from Notre Dame and he and Carolyn could spend their whole summers in the mountains.

Phillip is survived by his wife, Carolyn, son William Phillip Helman Jr., daughter-in-law Andrea Medina-Smith, and two grandchildren, Joaquin Henry Helman and Clara Ruth Medinasmith of Baltimore, MD. He is also survived by brother-in-law Dr. Thomas Campbell, nieces Karen Campbell and Jenny (Tschida) Matheu, her husband Trey, and nephews Tom, Tim and Phillip Campbell.

Arrangements are being entrusted to Kaniewski Funeral Home and cremation has taken place. A funeral mass will be at the Sacred Heart parish Center 100 Sacred Heart Parish Center, Notre Dame, IN 46556, at 10:00 am on Saturday, November 12, 2022. Visiting with the family will be one hour before the service. Private family burial will take place at Cedar Grove Cemetery at the University of Notre Dame.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Ladies of ND/SMC Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 116, Notre Dame, IN 46556 or Center for Hospice Care, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545.

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