THE NEWS & OBSERVER
Durham, North Carolina
Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Ronald Jack Jaszczak, Ph.D



Durham, North Carolina - Ronald Jack Jaszczak, Ph.D, 79, died Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at his home in Durham. He was born August 23, 1942 in Chicago Heights, Illinois to Jacob and Julia Jaszczak who predeceased him.

Dr. Jaszczak was Professor Emeritus of Radiology, Biomedical Engineering, and Medical Physics at Duke University. He was also Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Data Spectrum Corporation and Managing Member of R&N Capital Investments, LLC.

He graduated fourth out of a class of 980 from the University of Florida in 1964 and received his Ph.D. four years later from that same institution. Oak Ridge National Laboratory awarded Dr. Jaszczak a Fellowship in 1968 where he remained until 1971. He then joined Nuclear Chicago Corporation (later Searle Diagnostics, Inc.) rising to the position of Chief Scientist in 1977. In 1979, Duke University recruited him as an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology. Over his long career at Duke, he gained tenure in both Radiology and Biomedical Engineering as well as appointments in Medical Physics and Statistics and Decision Sciences.

Through it all, Dr. Jaszczak was guided by a singular focus: the use of measurable, verifiable data to help people. He was one of the pioneers to develop the first single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) medical imaging systems. This was one of the first uses of computers to help diagnose patients. In fact he coined the term SPECT. Next, through his company, Data Spectrum Corporation, he developed test objects, known as Jaszczak phantoms, to measure the function of SPECT systems. And then he spent the rest of his career refining and improving both the scanners and the phantoms always in service of the patient's health.

He was active in the scientific community as an author of over 350 publications, inventor of 8 patents, and recipient of numerous accolades including the Paul C. Aebersold and Edward H. Hoffman Awards from the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. He was a Life Fellow of the IEEE where he served in numerous leadership positions including President of the Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society. He was also generous with his time as a mentor to the nuclear medicine community.

He enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren, traveling, and landscaping at his home in Durham.

In addition to his parents, Dr. Jaszczak was predeceased by his brothers, Steven Jaszczak and Donald Jason; his sisters, Genevieve Wlos and Florence Dunson; three other siblings who did not survive infancy, and his close nephew Edwin Jaszczak.

He is survived by his brother, Raymond Jaszczak; son, John Jaszczak; daughter, Monica Jaszczak; grandchildren, Olivia "Livy" Jaszczak, Bianca "Bobbi" Jaszczak, and Jackson Rose.; former wife, Nancy Jaszczak (née Bober); and a great number of cousins, nieces, nephews, beloved in-laws, and dear friends, including his niece, Antoinette Harrigan, with whom he had grown especially close in his later years.

A funeral mass in honor of Ronald will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 26th at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Raleigh. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery Mausoleum. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25th at Clements Funeral Home in Durham.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to IEEE Ronald J. Jaszczak Graduate Award Scholarship. Donations may be made at https://ieee-npss.org/awards/npss-awards/

The family is being assisted by Clements Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc. in Durham. Online condolences can be made at www.clementsfuneralservice.com.