Gary Allen Briggs
September 20, 1941 ~ December 24, 2009
Resided in:
Weaverville, NC
DR. GARY ALLEN BRIGGS – WEAVERVILLE
Dr. Gary Allen Briggs, 68, of Weaverville, North Carolina, died on Christmas Eve at the St. Joseph Campus of Mission Hospital in Asheville after a three-week struggle with complications from H1N1.
Born in Olney, MD, Gary earned a B.S. in Physics at Georgetown University and a Ph.D. in Meteorology at Penn State University. He worked as a research meteorologist for NOAA in Oak Ridge, TN, and for the EPA in the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, furthering scientists' understanding of plume rise and dense-gas dispersion. He is best known for the highly influential "Briggs Equations" developed early in his career. He retired to Tucson, AZ, before settling in Weaverville.
While weather was always one of his passions, it was hardly his only pursuit. Music was a big part of Gary's life from a young age, most recently as a member of the Asheville Choral Society. He loved being out in nature—whether in his own garden, climbing a mountain, or making trails down to the creekside from his home. He was also continually looking for ways to improve the homes he lived in—from simple, utilitarian changes to larger, structural modifications. It was a great joy for him to share his experiences with his grandchildren by taking them for hikes, canoeing down the French Broad, or just playing with them.
Gary also had a strong moral compass and was active and vocal in trying to effect change—especially on environmental and gay rights issues.
Underlying many of his pursuits was a constant exploration of his spirituality. A member of the Asheville Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends and participant in regional and national Friends organizations, he read widely on many philosophies and theologies. Prior to his arrival in Weaverville, he was active in Pima Monthly Meeting in Tucson, Arizona, Durham Monthly Meeting in Durham, NC, and West Knoxville Monthly Meeting in Knoxville, TN.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clayton and Mildred Duvall Smith, and Robert and Adele Wenzel Briggs. He is survived by his sons, Allen Briggs and wife Elizabeth of Blacksburg, VA, and Jeremy Briggs, of Asheville; grandsons, Allen and Grayson of Blacksburg; brother, Wayne Smith and husband Paul Del Vecchio, of West Hollywood, CA; sisters Sherry Stanfield and husband Richard, of Yreka, CA, Gale Sexton, of Fremont, CA, Marilyn West and husband Tom, of Arcadia, FL, and Janet Frazee and husband David, of Port Charlotte, FL.
A memorial service after the manner of Friends (Quakers) will be held at 2pm on January 23rd at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville at One Edwin Place, Asheville, NC.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made in his name to the American Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102, or the Highlander Research and Education Center, 1959 Highlander Way, New Market, TN, 37820.
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Dear Allen and Jeremy,
Gary was one of the first Friends who introduced me to West Knoxville Friends Meeting. You played with my children Marijke and Keith when you lived in Oak Ridge. It was fun to get to know Gary again when he returned to NC and we met at a FGC Gathering.
Holding all of you in our Prayers.
Gary contacted Celo Friends Meeting to have the teens join SAYF. We emailed back and forth before we finally met in Asheville. Gary always took the time to show kindness. I appreciated him so much. We have a few teens from Celo attending SAYF since then. Thank you Gary.
Mari
Gary made the world a better place, and for the most part he lived his dreams. That’s pretty rare. Let’s take it as inspiration.
The members of Desert Voices are saddened by the loss of Gary and remember him fondly. Although we have missed him, we are glad he moved back east and was able to spend time with his family. Our condolences.
My life is richer for having known Gary. Even though it was only for a short time, he was a calm and gentle soul in the midst of Desert Voices chorus in Tucson. He will be missed.
It was a pleasure to sing with Gary when he lived here in Tucson. He was a remarkably gentle soul and always kind and supportive of others. He and I and another friend visited Karchner Cavern when it first was opened, and I will never forget that trip. I also remember how happy Gary was to move back east to be nearer his family. It was an honor to know him.
My heart goes out to Allen and Jeremy, more than I can say. I know that Gary was a good man and he will be remembered fondly by many. May he be at peace in the Light.
I’m a high school classmate and remember Gary quite vividly from way back then. We shared a few Emails before our last class reunion (the 50th), mainly dealing with the love of nature. I wish our conversation has been longer and I feel his death is a big loss. I am quite sad about it, but I also hope that he didn’t suffer. I’ll keep him in my thoughts.
I’m sorry to hear of Gary’s death. We were high school classmates. I can’t say we were friends then; in fact, there’s a yearbook picture of Gary and me and B.E. Kauffman as National Merit Finalists in which body language tells you we all wished we’d been anywhere else but with the other two – adolescent insecurities. So one of the best parts of recent class reunions was talking with him, hearing his life story, and discovering what a thoughtful and interesting person he’d become.
I was a classmate of Gary’s at George Mason High School in Virginia- class of 1959.
I enjoyed visiting with Gary at our reunions. You could tell that he was always as intelligent as when he was in high school, but he was a very modest person, as well as humble.You would never guess that he was such a famous scientist. My condolences to Gary’s family.
/s/ Kevin Talbot
I went to George Mason High with Gary and didn’t know him too well. My fault. I wish I had. It looks as though he had a very fulfilled and accomplished life. My condolences to his family and friends.
Gary was a wonderful colleague and a fine person. His contributions to the science of air quality are unique and lasting. His friendship and good humor will be greatly missed.
The news of Gary’s passing was passed on by Clare Neuberg Dix who’s been our GM class secretary since graduation in 1959. At the 50th reunion we gathered from all parts of the country and world to celebrate the exceptional years we shared during those wonderful years at GM. I hear that Gary had a great experience that weekend. As I read his obit, I was impressed with his rich life, both personally, professionally and spiritually. To his widow and offspring who grieve, know that you and your dad are in my prayers. Peace be with you. Warmly, Karen Garver
Dear Family and Friends of Gary,
My recollection of Gary is that he was a good and gentle soul. He was my friend in Desert Voices, the chorus in which we sang, laughed and played together over ten years ago in Tucson. Just last year we got in touch via email…exchanged news, talked about getting together in Durham, where I have family, too. He was happy and thriving. I will miss him. Heartfelt sympathy to all of those whose lives he touched…
I knew Gary to be a gentle, considerate and dedicated singer, always seeking to improve his performance. In his quiet way, he was a model of consistency and commitment. Karen and I will miss him, and we wish to send our condolences with his family. The Asheville Choral Society Family has lost a tried and true member.
Gary is one of the towering figures in the field of air pollution meteorology. The “plume rise” equations that he developed decades ago are still widely used today. I had the honor of having worked with Gary on a couple of projects right after his retirement from NOAA/EPA. I was quite impressed by his intellectual prowess and modest personality. Gary no doubt had left lasting footprints in many of us. His will be greatly missed.
Gary will always be remembered by me for his careful approach to scientific pursuits, and his good humor during the times I had discussions with him.
Please accept my condolence over the loss of a great scientists, outstanding personality and good friend.
Mark and I hope that you are comforted and consoled through love, family, friends, and memories. Gary was kind and gentle – always with a ready smile and loving embrace. His contributions have been many, and all of us who knew him are better for it.
Much love and many blessings to his family and friends.
The Weir Villatoro family feels blessed and grateful to have known Gary. We regret only that the relationships we each had with him had just begun to develop into friendships.
Gary’s quiet dedication to the work of the meeting, his spiritual exploration with which he engaged the children and youth in their own discovery, his voice, in song and in speaking truths and promoting dignity, the joy with which he lived his life, have left ripples in our lives that we will smile to recognize as they continue to be felt in years to come.
Our sincere condolences to Gary’s family. He will be missed and well-remembered.
It’s amazing what I don’t know about Gary. I knew him only as a singer with the Asheville Choral Society. He always had a friendly aspect, and I enjoyed the rare times we got to talk. His contribution to science amazes me. He made a much better amateur singer than I would make an amateur scientist. What a fascinating world to have such people as Gary in it, and he IS in it still, living in the minds and hearts of the many people he touched, even though we knew not his scientific persona.
I am so deeply saddened by Gary’s death. Such a life-filled man, I hardly expected him not to recover. I have so many memories of Gary. I first met him at FGC in Rochester, NY back in 1999, I believe. I remember well singing and worshiping with him across the years at Gatherings. Two specific memories I hold dear include talking with him the morning of a large gathering he had helped to organize in Blacksburg. It was hosted by FLBTGQC and was called, ‘Love Makes a Family.’ He was so proud of what he and others had helped to create. He expressed a sense of deep meaning in the truth of the title and the purpose of the event, which was to witness for Blacksburg that there is support for gay marriage. I attended the gathering, which Gary officially emceed (I supose this is what you would call it). I felt connected to him and to the pride he had shared with me earlier that day during the event. It was moving and left me with a deep sense of connection! The second memory I have is of working with Gary at Asheville Friends Meeting to write and bring to the Meeting a marriage procedure that included same gender couples. This process was lengthy and included bringing together individuals with different feelings and opinions in prayer to seek Truth. I so appreciated Gary’s patience, compassion, deep listening and honesty in this process. I learned so much about what is availalbe in the Light if you seek guidance. I will always remember Gary’s laughter and love of song. He lives in my mind and heart with a smile on his face and joy in his eyes. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work, play and worship with him! A beautiful man!
My deepest sympathy. I worked with Gary at RTP & moved to Asheville before he relocated here. We both enjoyed singing. I was shocked when I heard the news. Unfortunately I will be out of town the day of the memorial service. It was a pleasure to have known Gary in two settings and to share areas of common interest.
I’ll always appreciate Gary’s willingness to give lectures in EPA’s training courses and his help in providing materials for EPA’s SI-406 ‘Plume Rise and Effective Stack Height’ course in 1974. Jim Dicke
Gary was a friend & high school classmate from Falls Church, Va. All of our classmates seemed happy that he had attended our last several reunions & were happy to hear of his many successes. We are sad to hear of his passing & are happy to have known him. He will be missed by me & the members of his George Mason High School class.
I’m deeply saddened by the loss of Gary. He was a fine musician and was always willing to help with preparations for concerts. His quiet smile will be sorely missed and the Asheville Choral Society Tenors morn his passing.
Dennis Campbell, Section Leader
It was so nice to see and talk to Gary at our last two reunions! It is even more important that he came, since he seemed to enjoy his time with former classmates so much. I am so sorry to learn of his death, and hope that the spirt of love and friendship will remain with the family, long after Gary is gone.
Gary was always very patient as he tried in vain to improve my physics grade while at Georgetown. Sorry I missed him at the 45th hs reunion. We would have had a lot to share.
Gary visited Blacksburg numerous times and worshipped with the Blacksburg Friends Meeting along with son Allen, daughter in law Elizabeth and grandsons Allen and Grayson. He and I also worked together to make the Friends General Conference (FGC)in Blacksburg, 2009, a big success. We also shared a love for the outdoors. I will miss his serious side as well as his humorous way of looking at life.
I was very happy to see Gary again at the 50th anniversary of the George Mason High School class of 1959. I regret that I did not have enough time to talk with him there to understand the fullness of his life and career, which are very impressive.
A tragedy that H1N1 could have claimed him at a relatively young age.
My great respects to his family and loved ones.
Alan Gayer
I was shocked and saddened to learn of Gary Briggs’ death. He was a respected colleague at NOAA /ATDL in Oak Ridge, TN, and a good friend. I have many fond recollections of my association with him. Among them were the first nighttime experiments in Anderson Creek Valley in northern California in 1979 under DOE’s ASCOT program, during which we both made meteorological soundings with Tethersondes at two sites throughout the night. In between the soundings, he walked around the area making approximate observations of flow thickness and temperature at various locations and came up with a preliminary hypothesis of the drainage flow and pooling in the Anderson Valley basin, which was later confirmed by detailed ASCOT experiments. Gary brought similar intuition and physical insights to derive widely used results in research areas such as plume rise, urban dispersion curves, nocturnal boundary layers, convective diffusion, and dense gas dispersion.
Among my recollections of Gary was that he practiced Yoga and meditation. While attending meetings out of town, we both used to go out looking for vegetarian restaurants for meals. While moving to the Western U.S. after retiring from the EPA, he visited ATDL in Oak Ridge to present a seminar at my invitation, and that was the last time I saw him. Gary and I used to discuss many topics during our walks near ATDL. He was very sincere in his beliefs and always had the courage of his convictions. He loved nature and music. He will be remembered as a gifted scientist and a good human being, with a life well spent.
Gary was very well known in air pollution meteorology field in China back in 1980s when I was a college student there. I knew the name through his articles in various meteorological publications. In late 1980s, I was fortunate to do research studies on air pollution modeling in the Fluid Modeling Facility of EPA in Research Triangle Park. During that time, Gary had offered generous help in my project and helped me build the theoretical framework for urban heat island model. We had many constructive discussions on plume models. He was always intelligent, modest and humble. You wouldn’t feel you are talking to such an internationally famous scientist. My sincere condolences to Gary’s family.
I mostly knew Gary through his children and grandchildren who attended Camp Celo. We are holding them all in The Light during this time of loss.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I knew Gary as his eye doctor, and as a fellow singer in the Asheville Choral Society.
I chatted with Gary at Ace Hardware a number of weeks back. He was working on a plumbing problem for a friend. I also ran into him a couple of times more recently at the YMCA.
He will certainly be missed.
Sincerely,
Doug Hauschild
Sorry to hear of Gary’s death. Asheville glbt community will miss him. I got acquainted with Gary on a committee on which we both served.
Gary also had a wonderful sense of humor and used it well for his beloved causes. I treasure the times I was with Gary for he truly ‘walked the talk.’
Gary welcomed me warmly into the Durham Friends Meeting and helped convene my meeting for membership fifteen years ago. I remember him with great warmth and am so sorry his bright eyes and voice are not with us.
I am very sorry to hear of Gary’s passing. He will be missed.
Gary, I remember well our first meeting during an ACS gathering and our years of friendship as fellow tenors in the group. After I started attending the Swannanoa Valley Friends Meeting, our paths crossed again and I discovered you were in the Asheville Meeting. Clearly we shared many interests and loves. I was deeply saddened to learn of your illness and shocked to learn belatedly of your passing. I held you in the Light while I thought you were still fighting for your life, and I continue to hold you in the Light as you learn about your new life, the one that awaits us all after death.
in Friendship, Crayton
I was so sad to hear of Gary’s passing. He was a wonderfully unique human being, a scientist who searched for truth not only in his science, but also in his personal life. Last Christmas he shared in his card that he had cancer. As he also said it was unlikely to kill him, I hung on to the belief, false in hindsight, that he still had a long and full life ahead of him.
I first met Gary in the early 1960’s at Penn State when he was a graduate student of my father’s. My parents often invited him to the house, along with others, for festive meals and music making. I once asked my Dad which graduate student he had admired most. He named ‘Gary’ especially for his work in smoke plumes. I don’t know whether your father ever built on that work, but he certainly had my father’s admiration for it.
As our friendship grew closer, Gary somehow managed to be around in my life when I very much needed his support. Like a wonderful ‘ big brother’, he helped me to pass my driver’s licence when I had previously failed it three times! He managed to be an usher at our wedding in 1967 and 20 years later sat in our family pew during my father’s memorial service. Later still he visited us in our new home in Maidstone, UK and was enormously generous in buying me a much needed tuner for my French horn studies. To this day, I continue to make music in a wind ensemble and small orchestra.
So it would seem that as my father helped and trusted Gary, at certain critical times, Gary helped and trusted me and I am forever grateful for this.
While nothing can bring Gary back, I hope that you will discover, if you don’t already know, that he was a greatly loved, gifted and very well travelled man with friends all over the world. He was so appreciative and kind to people and his many enthusiasms were sincere and infectious. I will miss him very much.
my condolences goes out to the family of Mr. Briggs. May the God of all comfort bring comfort to the family.
(2 Corinthians 1:3,4)
I met Gary in 1971, when I joined the NOAA ATDL group in Oak Ridge. Gary was already a widely known scientist for his work on plume rise. I still own a well-worn copy of his monograph on that topic, published in 1969 by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. It became one of the most widely referenced works in air pollution meteorology and was used all over the world. One reason for its utility was that it was based on Gary’s remarkable physical insight, and it provided predictive formulas that did not require great expenditures of (then scarce and costly) computer time. I soon learned that this was one of Gary’s key scientific traits — he was able to cut through complicating details to understand the basic physics of atmospheric problems, and to then develop simple but accurate ways to calculate answers. Gary was never fond of brute-force data analyses and computer solutions to problems; he preferred to analyze data points one by one, considering each one’s pedigree, to determine its quality. He then liked to hand-plot the data on graph paper, feeling that gave him a better understanding of the phenomenon he was studying. I recall that he was even reluctant to use the early scientific calculators, preferring his slide rule for quick computations. This amazingly careful hands-on approach to data and its analysis is probably the reason his work has stood the test of time. I always enjoyed working with Gary, and have great respect for his work. I was saddened to learn of his passing. My wife and I extend our condolences to his family. He was a top-notch scientist and a fine person; he will be missed by many more people than you will ever know.
Gary was a great scientist, but what stood out most was his integrity. His actions were always guided by a moral compass. He was an inspiration to me. I will miss him.
My thoughts and prayers are with Gary’s family. I knew Gary when he lived in Durham, NC. He was a very kind a gentle soul. May his soul rest in peace.
Although post mortem, I am glad to see him personalized, as all I knew of him was his plume rise equations, while i worked in Air quality Review at NJDEP(1984-1996).At that time, all those algorithms were intriguing, how atmospheric conditions influenced plume behavior.
Sounds like he was such an engaging fascinating guy, and as a musician, I especially take ‘note’ of that part of him.
I send my condolences over his tragic untimely death.
Gary was my brother. I was his baby sister. Although we were far apart in age, we were always close in our hearts. As children he was always the creative one. He built my sister and I miniture furniture out of balsa wood for our Barbie Doll house. But it wasn’t just plain furniture. He made a fully reclining chair among other things. He also entertained us younger ones by building things like a giant snow castle that had stairs winding up around it in the backyard in Falls Church. He carved snow ‘roads’ in our yard so we could sled. He could stay facinated for hours just playing with the sugar bowl at the dinner table. When spending time together as adults he rarely spoke of his work. I have learned so much more about him from what you all have shared here. This guestbook is a very special gift to his family. What I do know is he loved to go to the top of whatever hill was around. He turned into such a big kid while playing with dogs, laughing with full abandonment. Gary was always up for whatever activity that was going on. Always the curious one he just had to figure out how something worked. And then he improved on it. Our Dad taught him to work with tools and his hands which he put to work on so many projects. His best work however was in being part of producing two of the finest boys a father could ever ask for. He instilled in them his love for nature and taught them to be gentle loving souls. Good job Gary. You will be missed as a father, and as a friend to many.
And you will be greatly missed by your siblings as our brother. Your life ended way to soon. See you on the other side when I get there. I can’t wait to see what your creating there!
Love,
Sherry
I was very sad to hear about Gary’s passing. I came to know him through Desert Voices in Tucson and always enjoyed talking with him. He was very bright and gave thoughtful, heartfelt responses. We considerend buying his house here when he was moving to NC. It was unique and very cool, like him.
a wonderful person
Well, it’s unfortunate that for a lot of people you don’t know what they’re really all about until its too late. I was Gary’s brother-in-law for many years and knew him just a little bit in Oak Ridge. After reading all these testimonials you’ve got to say he sure got his money’s worth from what talents and aptitudes with which he came here. I’m proud of him and you can see from Allen and Jeremy that he taught them well. That’s a ‘hard to beat’ legacy.
Gary was a great guy and i enjoyed working with him on justice/LGBT issues.
I have been going through some painful times of mourning, as you can imagine. There is also a lot of learning and growing.
Now that I have turned my heart to loving memory, I am consoled with joy and gratitude for how much Gary meant to so many people. I do not believe that love can ever be erased. Dad never stopped asking the hard questions, but his love, compassion, and bravery are the essence of his spirit.
Jeremy-You are in my thoughts. Stay strong.
Your Shakori/GBH friend,
Cary
We treasures the memories we have had of, and with, Gary since our days together at Penn State. He was a loyal friend and made a strong effort to stay in touch and to visit. We will remember his gentle and kind spirit, dry sense of humor and strong humility in spite of all his accomplishmednts. Our prayers are with the family in your loss.
Brother Jeremy…what a special man your dad was and it shows in the big musical heart of the son I know…Having lost my dad in the very same year I can only offer that we live on and we always carry them with us…may we pass on as much good to others as did they……
Here I am, me. Couldn’t quite be here without you. I remember great books and a house filled with inventions shaping my mind. Thank you Gary. Thank you Jeremy. Love from here to there and there.
I am shocked and saddened to learn of Gary’s sudden passing. My best wishes and condolences go out to Jeremy, Allen, Wayne and all of Gary’s family and friends. I was certain I would get a chance to see him again and visit him in N.C. I wanted him to know that the piano we brought to Zuni Mountain Sanctuary is still being played!
I knew Gary to be a mystic and a scientist. He was a man who loved music and nature and also an extraordinarily gentle and kind spirit. He was trusting and giving. When we were camping he was never afraid of the bears. Gary was also a dissident and he never stopped dreaming of and fighting for the better, fairer world that could be….It was impossible for him to be otherwise. I sense that a rare spirit kindred to those of Thoreau, Emerson, Carpenter & Whitman flowed in him. He was a truly lovely man. My world feels smaller without him in it. Still, I know that when I experience the beauty of nature and the joy of kindness in the world he is there.
Jeremy, sending love and support to you. From reading these tributes to your father, Gary, I get a strong impression that he was an exceptional man. He graduated from the same high school as John. I think that you have inherited many of his good qualities.
such an honor to know of you,Gary, if even now only in passing.blessings of peace and love to your son jeremy ,
and to those around he and thee~