IN MEMORIAM

JOHN MCGRATH

John J. McGrath, director of public affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, died Oct. 4, 2001. He was 57 and had been a member of NASW since 1994.

McGrath was in charge of the laboratory's public, media and community relations programs, as well as special events and other projects. He came to Argonne in 1993 as management and marketing communications director. Prior to that he had worked for Ford Motor Co., Miller Brewing Co., McDonnell Douglas Corp., and the U.S. Department of Defense.

McGrath had also worked as Washington bureau chief, editor, reporter, and correspondent with a Texas newspaper group, the Associated Press, UPI, Reuters, and Agence France Presse. He led a Marine Amphibious Force Combat News Team in Vietnam. He received several awards from the
Associated Press and was a Pulitzer prize nominee.

For three years McGrath also served on the adjunct faculty of the College of Communication, Journalism, and the Performing Arts at Marquette University.
McGrath held a Ph.D. in mass communications and a master's degree in business. In addition to NASW, he was a member of the Public Relations Society of America, the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Press
Club, the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, and the Association for Public Policy and Management.

(Source: Argonne National Laboratory Office of Public Affairs)

LEO NEMIROFF (A.K.A. ERIC NORTHRUP)

Leo Nemiroff (who wrote professionally under the name Eric Northrup), a humanist, writer, lover of literature and ideas, died Sept. 28, 2001, in Crotonon-
Hudson, N.Y. He was 87 and had been a member of NASW since 1954.

Born in the Bronx on August 8, 1914, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

During the Depression, Mr. Nemiroff worked on the WPAWriters Project. He became a machinist and seaman, and joined the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II.

After the war, he worked in the family's restaurant business. At the same time, under the name Eric Northrup, he began a career as a science and medical writer/editor that lasted 40 years.

Following his retirement, Mr. Nemiroff provided many years of volunteer counseling services to disabled veterans at the Veterans Administration hospital in Montrose, N.Y.

Deeply committed to peace and social justice throughout his life, his generosity and compassion touched all who knew him, according to his family. Young and old alike enjoyed his lively intelligence, humor and imagination.

"Leo's passing leaves a great void in the hearts of his loved ones, but the memory of his remarkable presence will remain with us always," said his daughter Judith.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mili; four children, Sandra and Judith, of Boston, David, of New York City, and Margaret, of Baton Rouge, La.; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Mili Nemiroff (a.k.a. Mili Northrup) can be reached at 1959 Michel Delving Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70810.

(Source: Croton Gazette obituary)

---

Return to NASW homepage.

Return to NASW Members' Lobby.

Return to ScienceWriters Newsletter homepage.