OBITUARIES
Entering Scotch as a day boy in 1954 , John later boarded in McMeckan and Arthur Robinson Houses . He was taught by three legendary teachers : Issy Spivakovsky ( violin ), ‘ Gunner ’ Owen ( English Literature ), and ‘ Okka ’ Ferres , who instilled his love of physics . In 1964 John built and demonstrated a linear particle accelerator with a Van de Graaff generator and a high vacuum tube . The Geiger counter went berserk : Okka shouted ‘ Stand back ! It will make you useless !’ John was a 1964 Probationer , Captain of Arthur Robinson House , stroked the 4th VIII and co-led the orchestra .
Singing formed a big part of John ' s life . A recording exists of the 12-year-old soprano singing Hear Ye Israel from Mendelssohn ' s Elijah , with organ accompaniment by Norman Kaye in Memorial Hall . Classmate John Williamson ( SC 1960-63 ) taught him guitar , and together with David Skewes ( SC 1961-65 ) they formed a folk singing group . At university John formed the Sometime Singers with Ian Renard ( SC 1956-64 ), Rob Marks ( SC 1952-63 ), Malcolm Alexander ( SC 1959-64 ), Penny Derham and Angela Kellar . In Arizona he founded rock band Moondogs , and bossa nova band Who Knew .
Music and his social life led John to fail first year university , but , after repeating in Brisbane , he returned to Melbourne University and achieved First Class honours and a PhD in physics . Following postdoctoral studies at Oxford University , he joined Arizona State University , becoming a Regents Professor .
John married Susan Clare Somerville on 14 September 1973 at the Melbourne Registry Office . Their son Andrew was born in 1975 . Divorced in 1998 , on 11 August 2001 John married Margaret Ann Edquist at their home at Orinda , California , USA .
John became the world ’ s leading electron microscopist of his generation . His greatest achievement pioneered a new way to analyse proteins ; one which many thought impossible . The X-ray free electron laser ( XFEL ) produces radiation 10 billion times brighter than the sun , in pulses of a quadrillionth of a second . The key question was whether proteins would emit a diffraction pattern in the infinitesimal interval before they were destroyed .
Ten grant applications were denied . John persisted , eventually emailing friends with two words : ‘ IT WORKED !’ It became possible to make ‘ molecular movies ’ of proteins , initiating a revolution ranked by Science magazine among 2012 ’ s top 10 scientific breakthroughs .
John ' s first book , Experimental High Resolution Electron Microscopy ( 1981 ) is a classic text now in its fourth edition . In 2019 , John published Lightspeed , a historical account of the search to measure the speed of light , and , in 2021 , Spitfire Pilot Lou Spence : A Story of Bravery , Leadership and Love . Echoing his father , he learned to pilot a glider .
John received many prizes and distinctions , including Foreign Member of the Royal Society . He shared the 2021 Swedish Academy of Sciences Gregori Aminoff Prize with Henry Chapman and Janos Hajdu . Although exceptionally distinguished , he did everything with boyish enthusiasm , a sense of fun , and did not take himself too seriously .
John died on 28 June 2021 at Boston , Massachusetts , USA , survived by his wife , sister Penny , son , daughter-in-law Rebecka , grandchildren Maja and Louis Spence , and stepsons James , Daniel and Peter Stanzler , and their families .
TAYLOR , Ian McDonald (’ 48 )
Ian ’ s son , David (‘ 72 ), wrote :
Ian McDonald Taylor was born at Warrnambool on 3 October 1930 , the son of John McDonald and Margaret Evelyn ( nee Fraser ) Taylor . He left Warrnambool High School to board at Scotch from 1945 to 1949 in School House , and as a member of Littlejohn House , of which all boarders were then members . Ian was a member of the 1948 Athletics and Basketball teams , a member of the winning 1949 Athletics team , and Vice Captain of the 1949 Basketball team . He was a 1948 School House Prefect and 1949 School House Captain , and a 1949 School Prefect .
The first of three generations of Scotch Collegians , Ian ’ s relatives included his brother Andrew ( SC 1954-57 ), sons David ( SC 1969-72 ) and Andrew ( SC 1972-75 ), and grandson Chris ( Year 11 ).
With a father and an uncle as practising solicitors , Ian studied Law at the University of Melbourne and resided in Ormond College . Serving as a groomsman at a friend ’ s wedding , he met a bridesmaid , Elsie Jean Robinson , from Merrigum , who was a nurse at the Royal Melbourne Hospital ( RMH ). The couple frequently communicated with light signals between their respective Ormond and RMH nurses ’ home bedrooms . They married at the Littlejohn Chapel on 18 February 1955 .
Shortly after their marriage , Ian and Elsie established their home in Warrnambool where they remained until 2019 . Ian commenced work in his father ’ s law practice ( Mackay , Taylor and Co .) and stayed until his retirement . Outside of work , his keen interests included fishing and Test cricket . Throughout his life , Ian served as a dedicated layman of St John ’ s Presbyterian Church in Warrnambool , and as a board member of King ’ s College , Warrnambool .
After a full and rewarding life , Ian died peacefully on 23 December 2019 at his Warrnambool nursing home at the age of 89 . He is survived by Elsie , his three children and five grandchildren .
WILLEY , Graham John (’ 51 )
Graham ’ s friend , Gus Hawthorne (’ 53 ), wrote :
Graham was born at the Ballarat Base Hospital on 19 July 1933 . He boarded at Scotch in Arthur Robinson House from 1948 to 1952 as a member of Littlejohn House , and was the 1952 Captain of both of them . A top schoolboy sportsman , Graham played in the 1951 2nd XI and captained the 1952 2nd XI , but football was his forte . A member of the 1950 and 1951 1st XVIIIs , he captained the premiership 1952 1st XVIII .
104 Great Scot Issue 163 – September 2021