Mr. A.R. Frank Wazzan, Ph.D.

October 17, 1935 – October 1, 2024

A. R. “Frank” Wazzan, Ph.D., (born October 17, 1935; Latakia, French Mandate Syria) was Distinguished Professor, and Dean Emeritus, of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of California, Los Angeles ("UCLA"). Frank was internationally recognized for his research in the areas of nuclear material, thermal hydraulics, and stability of laminar flows. He was also known for his work on the design of underwater weapons systems for the U.S. Navy, and on the operation of pressurized water nuclear reactors for commercial applications.

Early life and education

Frank attended the American Mission School, Latakia, Syria from 1942-1952. From October 1953 - March 1954, he attended Frankfurt University, Frankfurt, Germany. In 1955, Frank immigrated to the United States (port of entry New York, January 26, 1955). From January 1955 - August 1955, he attended Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. He then enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, which awarded him a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering (1959), a master's in mechanical engineering and aeronautic sciences (1961), and a doctorate in engineering science (1963). Note: Frank spent part of '57-58' at UCLA. His UC Berkeley Dissertation was entitled “Analysis of Enhanced Diffusivity in Nickel, August 1962.”

Marriage and Life

In 1963 Frank met the love of his life, Jocelyne F. Ayoub (born in Aleppo, Syria, July 17, 1938), on the beach in Latakia. After a series of letters were exchanged, Jocelyne eventually wrote that it wasn’t going to work, and that Frank should give up. Upon receipt of this news, Frank immediately flew back to Syria where he convinced Jocelyne to elope; Jocelyne packed one small bag and in the middle of the night the pair flew to back to the US where they were married on July 3, 1964.

Frank and Jocelyne built a life together filled with friends, family and love. The pair were adventurous travelers and passionate explorers of foreign cultures. They were fortunate to have lived in Paris (twice), Copenhagen and Brussels in addition to Los Angeles. During their lives together, they visited at least 26 countries, including: Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Vatican City and the UK.

Frank and Jocelyne were dedicated to community service. They generously donated time and resources to Colleagues’ Room in Santa Monica, Les Amies benefitting Children’s Institute, St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, the UCLA hospital and various other community programs through their church, Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Westwood.

Frank and Jocelyne led an active social life and were fond of joining their many beloved friends for dinners and movies, nights at the opera or the Hollywood Bowl, balls and galas, and spending time with their many friends weekly at the Los Angeles Country Club and the Bel Air Bay Club of which they were long time members.

Career

Upon completing his doctorate, Frank accepted a position as assistant professor at UCLA where he served on the faculty for more than 40 years. He was named Associate Dean in 1981 and Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science in 1986, serving in that capacity until 2001. In 1996, Frank was instrumental in establishing the graduate degree program in biomedical engineering.

In addition to his academic career, Frank served as consultant to Douglas Aircraft, Hughes Electrodynamics, North American Rockwell, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Westinghouse Oceanics Division, the French Atomic Energy Commission, Électricité de France (Visiting Scholar, Office of Commissioner Atomic Energy), Honeywell, and the Department of Defense through the RAND Corporation. In the latter role, he was granted Secret, Top Secret, and Critical Nuclear Weapon Design Information clearances to work on the design of underwater weapon systems, study the effect of nuclear radiation on the performance of electronic materials and communication satellites, and to conduct theoretical studies in methods of hardening boosters and satellites to laser and microwave weapons.

Awards and honors

Frank was the recipient in 1966 of a Guggenheim Fellowship at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark for studies of magnetic interaction in solids. He was the recipient in 1977 of the "Favorite Professor Award" from the Engineering Society of the University of California. His paper "Effects of baffling and nonuniform feedwater discharge hole distribution on PWR thermal hydraulics" was awarded "Best Paper" at the Proceedings of International Nuclear Power Plant Thermal Hydraulics and Operations, Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China. 1984. He was recipient of the Gold Medal Award at the First International Meeting on Nuclear Power Plants in Commercial Operations. Frank was an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society. On June 29, 2001, Frank was honored with a tree dedication and plaque permanently mounted outside Boelter Hall, UCLA inscribed "Dean A. R. Frank Wazzan - In Honor of his 15 Years of Leadership and Vision."

Frank is predeceased by his beloved wife Jocelyne (“Bisou”) (March 2, 2020) and is survived by his children and grandchildren, all of whom deeply loved their “Grandpapa.”